Mustaffa distances himself from Zaid

One by one, PKR leaders are soming to the defence of party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim amidst the rain of brickbats by former supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim.

In a seven-paragraph statement released today, deputy presidency candidate Mustaffa Kamil Ayub (left) attempted to distance himself from Zaid, saying that he fully supports Anwar's leadership.

"I would like to state that my full support for Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the PKR president has never changed. The other members can attest to my stand and I have been very consistent in defending Anwar throughout the 12 years of my reformasi struggles.

"I believe that PKR, Pakatan Rakyat and Malaysians need Anwar's leadership as an icon of change that will bring a huge difference to the country," said Mustaffa, in a glowing tribute to Anwar.

Mustaffa's association with Zaid was a curious one and it only became apparent that they were bandying together when the former called for a halt in party polls.

Mustaffa held a press conference at Zaid's residence on Tuesday, where he issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the party HQ to postpone the party elections, setting tongues wagging that the two of them were aligned to each other.

Despite it seeming like two separate press conferences where Mustaffa got up to leave before Zaid (right) started giving his statements, mainly to fire salvos at Anwar, calling him a failed leader; Mustaffa spared no opportunity today in explaining that he was not in support of Zaid's attacks.

‘I was misquoted'

He also picked up on Malay daily Berita Harian's error in the photo caption stating that Mustaffa was posing with Zaid, holding up a memorandum demanding  Anwar's resignation.

"I strongly protest the caption, which wrongly reported that I am demanding that Anwar and (vice-president) Azmin Ali step down. As I have said before, it was a memorandum to restart the party elections, the contents of which are fully known to Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah," he said.

However up to press time, Mustaffa has yet to address his ultimatum, now that the 48 hours are up.

The Federal Territories PKR leadership council - formerly led by Zaid before his resignation on Monday - had also released a terse statement yesterday, pledging their unequivocal support for Anwar and his wife. 

Signed by acting state liaison chairperson Dr Idris Ahmad, the statement also called for an independent body to study the claims of irregularities to ensure a free and fair party elections.