PKR Youth threatens ‘mutiny’ after Azmin’s congress invite withdrawn

Over 80% of PKR Youth’s central leadership has voiced protests against Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution for retracting an invitation to Datuk Seri Azmin Ali to officiate the party’s Youth National Congress.

In a statement signed by 21 of the 25 PKR Youth central leaders elected in the last party elections, the group condemned the PKR secretary-general for triggering a “leadership crisis”.

Saifuddin withdrew the invitation to Azmin to officiate the congress on Dec 6, thus overriding the Youth leaders’ invitation on Nov 11.

“The PKR Youth National Congress is the place to polish the cohesiveness and unity of members in the struggle of the party.

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“The statement by Saifuddin on Nov 12 cancelling the invitation to Azmin as the one to officiate PKR Youth National Congress mirrors how PKR is now in a leadership crisis.

“We opine that the action to cancel the invitation goes against the spirit and tradition of the congress and the organisation.

“Saifuddin is sending the wrong message to the members, unless the secretary-general wants divisions and rebellion brewing in the party,” said the statement, which was signed by the leaders from nationwide.

PKR has been beset with much upheaval since the last party elections when members were divided between the teams of Azmin and his opponent Rafizi Ramli for the post of deputy president.

Rafizi was openly supported by party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Saifuddin, resulting in a public spat between Azmin and Anwar for many months.

The situation, however, cooled down recently with a perceived conciliation in Parliament between the top two party leaders last month.

The Star