• UPDATED 9.53PM | Added list of the 46 PKR leaders.

Forty-six PKR leaders today issued a joint statement criticising what they claimed was a persistent effort to undermine unity in the party despite attempts at reconciliation.

They also called on the party to cease their action against party vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin.

They pointed at that several PKR leaders, including party deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali and his supporters, who had been absent from the political bureau meeting for a long time amid a feud with party president Anwar Ibrahim and his allies, had decided to return to the discussion table on Jan 8.

"Following that meeting, the deputy president (Mohamed Azmin Ali) issued a statement that 2020 should start with a new page where mutual respect and understanding would be strengthened in the interest of party unity.

"However, the elected central leadership council leaders, MPs and state assemblypersons regret that there is a plan to ensure this consensus fails through provocations," they said in the joint statement.

They said among the provocations was a protest organised against Zuraida outside the PKR headquarters on Jan 18 and another protest outside the Housing and Local Government Ministry on Jan 21. Zuraida is the housing and local government minister.

They also noted that seven PKR Youth leaders, who were seen to be aligned to Azmin's camp, were dismissed by the party leadership on Jan 15.

The group said this was also followed by a public statement jointly made by several state PKR chiefs on Jan 19 calling for Zuraida's expulsion from the party.

"This aggravated the situation at a time when there is already a consensus not to issue provocative statements openly," they said.

They said the PKR disciplinary board's decision to issue a show-cause letter to Zuraida also made the situation worse.

"Therefore, we believe the action and pressure to press for Zuraida's sacking is mala fide (in bad faith) out of jealousy for her success as the housing and local government minister," they said.

The group said Zuraida had reformed the housing policy, empowered local governments and also contributed to the development of women leaders.

"The pressure and harassment against her are selective, biased and prejudiced.

"This action is only directed at certain party members while ignoring the provocation of other leaders and members who continuously issues statements that split the party.

"We unanimously call for all quarters to stop undermining party unity and belittling the people's confidence in the party leadership.

"Therefore, we demand disciplinary action against Zuraida to cease immediately and is resolved properly in the interest of party harmony," they said.

Of the 46 signatories, 38 are elected representatives.

They also called on PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to take charge in ensuring unity in the party.

"The party president and leadership are responsible for playing a role in starting 2020 with a renewed spirit and resolve to unite the party.

"We are confident that if a consensus can be achieved then the agenda for reform can be realised, which will ensure the government's performance and delivery quality," they said.

On Jan 18, Zuraida was issued a show-cause letter by the PKR disciplinary board, but the reason was not made public.

She had indicated that the letter may be related to her speech made in December criticising Anwar.

The signatories of the joint-statement are as follow:

1. PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali (Gombak MP/ Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson)
2. PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang MP)
3. PKR vice-president Tian Chua
4. PKR vice-president Ali Biju (Saratok MP)
5. Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian (Selangau MP / Ba'kelalan assemblyperson)
6. PKR central leadership council member Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota MP)
7. PKR central leadership council member Amiruddin Shari (Sungai Tua assemblyperson)
8. PKR Youth deputy chief Hilman Idham (Gombak Setia assemblyperson)
9. PKR Wanita chief Haniza Talha (Lembah Jaya assemblyperson)
10. PKR central leadership council member Mohamad Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat MP)
11. PKR central leadership council member R Sivarasa (Subang MP)
12. PKR central leadership council member Rahimah Majid
13. PKR central leadership council member Zakaria Abdul Hamid
14. PKR central leadership council member Radzlan Jalaluddin
15. PKR central leadership council member Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal)
16. PKR central leadership council member Kamarudddin Jaafar (Bandar Tun Razak MP)
17. PKR central leadership council member Hee Loy Sian (Kajang assemblyperson)
18. PKR central leadership council member Elizabeth Wong (Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson)
19. PKR central leadership council member Edmund Santhara (Segamat MP)
20. PKR central leadership council member Azmizam Zaman Huri (Pelabuhan Klang assemblyperson).
21. PKR central leadership council member Gan Pei Nei
22. Jugah Anak Moyang ( Lubok Antu MP)
23. Steven Chong (Tebrau MP)
24. Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo MP)
25. Jonathan Yasin (Ranau MP)
26. See Chee How (Batu Lintang assemblyperson)
27. Khairuddin Othman (Paya Jaras assemblyperson)
28. Juwairiya Zulkifli (Bukit Melawati assemblyperson)
29. PKR Wanita deputy chief Darolyah Alwi (Sementa assemblyperson)
30. Borhan Aman Shah (Tanjung Sepat assemblyperson)
31. Halimey Abu Bakar (Seri Setia assemblyperson)
32. Chong Fat Full (Pemanis assemblyperson)
33. Mohamad Rafie Malek (Ampangan assemblyperson)
34. Lee Kai Loon (Machang Bubok assemblyperson)
35. Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya assemblyperson)
36. Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Acheh assemblyperson)
37. Azman Nasurddin (Lunas assemblyperson)
38. Robert Ling (Sidam assemblyperson)
39. Jailani Khamis (Rembia assemblyperson)
40. Yunus Jamhari (Kuala Krau assemblyperson)
41. Jaffari Wailiam (Sabah-appointed assemblyperson)
42. Ginie Lim (Machap assemblyperson)
43. Gan Ay Ling (Indera Kayangan assemblyperson)
44. Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya MP)
45. Amar Pritpal Abdullah (Sungai Bakap assemblyperson)
46. Yeoh Keng Chuan (Kulim asemblyperson)