PKR today insisted that the convention of its Sarawak chapter will proceed on November 23 despite the state party leaders’ decision to cancel it.

PKR’s director of state conventions, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, said the central leadership had met the state leaders since September for the convention.

He said the last meeting was yesterday.

“If they believe in democracy in PKR, they should not cancel the annual convention, which had been discussed and decided upon previously.

“As such, the Sarawak PKR convention will proceed as planned in Miri at the time and date decided,” said Nik Nazmi.

He said that the party’s commitment towards organisational discipline and regulation must be above any tradition.

Earlier today, Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian said the state has decided to cancel its annual convention on November 23 in support of party deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, who has been snubbed from officiating the youth wing’s congress next month.

A statement signed by seven top Sarawak PKR leaders said they wanted the party leadership to solve the matter in a just and fair manner.

“If the crisis is not handled immediately by the party leadership, it will only result in a deeper crisis and division in PKR,” the state leaders said.

PKR’s youth wing had cancelled its invitation to Azmin to officiate its congress on December 6.

Instead, it invited former party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the deputy prime minister, to officiate at the gathering.

Of Sarawak PKR’s leaders, only the state youth chief supported the decision to invite Wan Azizah. 

Sarawak PKR said it was disappointed with the developments as it has been tradition for the party’s deputy president to officiate the youth wing’s national congress.

“We are disappointed with the betrayal of this tradition as it is a common knowledge that two-thirds of the party’s elected national leaders have expressed their support for Azmin to officiate the youth congress.

“We fear this hasty decision will bury democracy in PKR,” they added.

The youth wing’s snub is set to widen the divide between the supporters of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin. – November 15,  2019.