PKR CONGRESS PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim today asked his party members not to negate the importance of PAS in the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition, amidst strained relationships between PKR and PAS of late.
 
PAS had dragged its feet in supporting PKR's move to install Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the new Selangor menteri besar, replacing Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, but Anwar said that the contributions of PAS cannot be forgotten.
 
"I will never forget the contributions of PAS when I was facing difficulties," he said.
 
He said that the opinions of "one or two" PAS members should not be taken to reflect an entire party.
 
"Even in this congress, there are things said by PKR delegates that are strong. Though we take heed of what they say, you can't expect us to defend and stand by each statement that is made here," he said.

"Don't ever underestimate the role that PAS plays in Pakatan," he added.

He asked his delegates to look at the "bigger picture" and to also give importance to Pakatan Rakyat in the wider context.

He however rebutted some of his own members who during the congress had said that PKR's struggle is to defend Anwar.

"This struggle is not about Anwar. Yes, Anwar may be jailed in the process, but (protesting) Anwar being jailed is not the basic motive behind this struggle," he said.

He said that he was hopeful that he would not be imprisoned for a second time, with the Federal Court appeal on his sodomy conviction just around the corner.

"Insya Allah, I will not be imprisoned. I believe so," he said.


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