Mohd Azmin, Saifuddin might face music over recent interviews

Two candidates vying for the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president position might be hauled up to face the party election committee (JPP) for criticising other candidates in their recent media interviews.

The StarOnline had reported that JPP director Datuk Johari Abdul said the committee will go through the interviews given by Mohd Azmin Ali and Datuk Saifuddin Nasution before deciding if they had broken party election rules.

The list of candidates will be finalised on Apr 21.

“We will discuss the issue on Monday,” he said at a press conference at the PKR headquarters, Wednesday.

Johari had before this told all candidates to refrain from criticising each other during media interviews or campaigning to avoid disqualification.

Asked if the statements by both the candidates had broken party election rules, Johari said it will have to be discussed before a decision is to be made.

“I have read their statements but the committee has not decided on this. As the chairman, it is not fair for me to comment on their behalf,” he said.

He said the committee is looking at the statements made by Mohd Azmin to TV3 which has been banned from covering party matters and for his statements criticising fellow candidate and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Saifuddin meanwhile had spoken about the personality clashes between Abdul Khalid and Mohd Azmin.

Mohd Azmin, the incumbent will be facing Abdul Khalid, Saifuddin and Datuk K. Ramachandran for the number two position.

On another matter, Johari said PKR need not appoint an independent auditor to monitor the party election which will begin Apr 25 to May 11 as all the issues that had cropped up in the 2010 party election had been settled.

“We are more transparent now as we are using a transparent ballot box and ballot papers with serial numbers. The candidates are also allowed to appoint their representatives to look out for their best interest,” he said.