MELAKA, Dec 7 -- The 20th PKR National Congress at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MICT), which went smoothly today, witnessed another significant event when PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivered his policy speech for the first time as the party president.
He started the speech by expressing his gratitude to former president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is his wife, for lead the party for the past two decades.
Anwar said on behalf of the party leaders and delegates, he is grateful for Dr Wan Azizah’s contributions, hard work and perseverance in leading the party that it was able to win 50 parliamentary seats in the last general election and became part of the government today.
“This is the first time I’m speaking at the (party) congress as President, hence, it is only appropriate that I give credit to the former president (Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail), a small-size woman, but with a strong spirit, for steering the party for the past two decades" he said in his policy speech when opening the congress, themed ‘Two Decades of Reform: Filling The People's Victory', here.
Dr Wan Azizah, named the Mother of Reformation, led PKR, which was known as Parti Keadilan Nasional in 1999.
Now, as deputy Prime Minister, she has been appointed as the party’s Advisory Council chairman.
Anwar also apologised to PKR members and the people for the ruckus at the PKR Youth Congress yesterday.
He urged PKR members to keep calm over the matter.
“Police are investigating and make your decision based on the police investigation,” he said, referring to the violent ruckus last night, during which two people were injured.
The delegates’ attention was also drawn to the two key party figures, namely Anwar and his deputy, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who were seated next to one another. The two of them were occasionally seen talking to one another, a picture which refutes claim of a leadership crisis in PKR.
-- BERNAMA
