Anwar Remains Unfazed After Being Slammed By 27 PKR Leaders Over Sex Scandal Remarks
The PKR president previously suggested that Datuk Seri Azmin Ali should resign if he was identified as part of a viral sex video.
By Jia Vern Tham — 18 Jul 2019, 01:39 PM
Speaking about the sex scandal allegedly involving Datuk Seri Azmin Ali yesterday, 17 July, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim suggested that the Economic Affairs Minister should resign if he was identified as one of the men in the video
"My initial view is for him (Azmin) not to resign. It will depend on investigations," Anwar was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini yesterday.
"If the investigation is conclusive, in terms of the participants of the act, then I think he needs to resign," the Port Dickson MP added.
The party president's statement has since received criticism from Azmin himself
"Read my lips. Tell him to look in the mirror," Azmin said in response to Anwar's suggestion yesterday, according to theSun.
"Ask Anwar to muhasabah (introspect yourself). He should look at himself in the mirror," the minister added.
A joint statement signed by 27 PKR central committee members and Members of Parliament (MPs) was also released earlier today, 18 July, condemning Anwar's remarks over the sex scandal
"We are of the view that this statement is inappropriate and based on speculative assertions... Azmin has categorically denied the video. Anwar should, as party president, stand by his deputy in the interest of party unity and not seek to undermine him," the statement read, according to The Malaysian Insight.
"He (Anwar) should remember that Azmin defended him and his family for more than 20 years against the same type of gutter politics," the statement added.
New Straits Times reported that among those who signed the statement include PKR vice-presidents Zuraida Kamaruddin, Tian Chua, and Ali Biju, aside from Women chief Haniza Talha, deputy secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Edmund Santhara, and Selangor MB Amirudin Shari.
Nonetheless, the Prime Minister-in-waiting has since downplayed the criticism, claiming that he may have been misunderstood
"What Azmin said yesterday, I give him deference... He is going through a very difficult period. I think I would certainly not respond to some of his spontaneous outbursts," Anwar told Free Malaysia Today in Parliament today.
The PKR president also claimed that Azmin may have misunderstood his remarks.
"Azmin (probably) said that without reading the full statement (that I made)... He thought I came to Parliament and said that he should resign, but that is not true," Anwar was quoted as saying by The Star.
In response to the joint statement by 27 party leaders, the Port Dickson MP acknowledged that it was well-meaning.
"I accept their explanation that perhaps I should have just said that we should leave the matter to the police," Anwar added.
