PKR leaders offered contradicting claims with regard to a letter purportedly penned by their jailed leader Anwar Ibrahim on the Citizens’ Declaration, and the danger in tangoing with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
According to vice-president and secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, the letter is genuine.
“The letter is authentic. I do not wish to comment further. Let the people read and make their own evaluation," he told Malaysiakini.
Earlier, PKR vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin dismissed the letter, adding that Anwar has remained consistent in his support for the declaration and its objectives.
“The issue of him regretting (supporting the declaration) does not arise at all. Anwar has been consistent from the beginning that it must be supported.
“Anwar has many letters. We don’t know which letter that was meant by this unnamed PKR Youth,” he told reporters in Parliament.
News about the letter and its contents were first published by Penang PKR Youth on its Facebook page.
In the eight-page handwritten letter obtained by Malaysiakini, Anwar purportedly expressed concern over the declaration which has "dragged our leaders and apparatuses to be in cahoots with Tun M (Mahathir) and Daim (former finance minister Daim Zainuddin)".
"The issue that I am bringing up here must be reviewed calmly. The contents of it does not stray from the core of our struggle and is consistent with what was etched out before. But my concern is that you will only listen to me out of respect but do not take it to heart.
"My view might be in contradiction with the stand of the majority of leaders. I am apprehensive, assuming that this strategy is a little overboard and threatens our struggle.
"We must steer clear of the danger of falling into the games of the power elites and their skilfull trickery to maintain an outdated system," stated the letter addressed to PKR leaders.
‘A flawed Mahathir’s declaration’
Furthermore, the letter also said that the launch of the Citizens’ Declaration appeared to have been set without the need or possibility for further negotiations - a fait accompli.
“It is only after pressure from NGO leaders at the last minute that other views were included, but the changes were superficial.
“Principally, it remained Mahathir’s document - flawed and inconsistent with reform perspectives.
“It only focused on Najib’s (Abdul Razak) resignation as prime minister, as a result of the 1MDB scandal.
“It clearly strayed far from the raison d’etre, or the basis of our struggle - for freedom and justice, for supremacy of the law, to combat abuse of power, corruption and justice for all,” it read.
The letter also described the support rendered to the declaration as a desperate move.
“And today, we strongly give our support through this new effort which is pushed through this movement led by those who are ruling, and this effort is portrayed like it is inclusive - of the rakyat.
“There is one explanation - it was a desperate move. We are so desperate for mass support that we do this without a hint of guilt, when in fact it is to further political interests,” it said.
