Azmin opposed PH formation, insisted on being PM candidate

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Azmin opposed PH formation, insisted on being PM candidate, Nik Nazmi says in new book

KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had outright opposed the formation of Pakatan Harapan, three years before the coalition led its historic election win in 2018, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has revealed in his new book.

Nik Nazmi, who is now PKR vice-president, said in September 2015, the party’s then-president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had steered a discussion between opposition parties and civil society to form PH, but some quarters felt that winning federal power was so remote that focus should be on retaining Selangor, which was then led by Azmin, who was then the state’s menteri besar.

Nik Nazmi said that those within PKR who opposed the formation of PH believed that retaining Selangor in the opposition’s hands could only happen by maintaining political cooperation in PAS.

However, Nik Nazmi said his faction had felt that the opposition was not at risk of losing Selangor to BN, and that it could focus on taking Putrajaya.

“Within PKR, debate over the direction we should take heated up.

“Two weeks after the launch of PH, almost half of the PKR Central Leadership Council that were aligned to deputy president Azmin Ali called for a meeting to review the formation of PH,” Nik Nazmi said.

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