KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad reiterated that he would not interfere in the affairs of PKR and denied that he had spoken negatively about its de factor leader Anwar Ibrahim.
“Have you ever seen me say anything bad about Anwar (Ibrahim) or Azmin (Ali)? This is their party. I don’t interfere,” he said at the Parliament today.
He was asked about several explosive audio clips being circulated on social media, in which a voice resembling that of Anwar lashed out at Azmin while admitting that he was behind Rafizi Ramli’s decision to challenge the PKR deputy president.
In the audio, the voice strongly resembling that of Anwar said: “That’s why I asked Rafizi to go against Azmin, as Azmin has become a ‘barua’ (lackey) to Mahathir.”
Mahathir said he had yet to listen to the audio clips.
When asked about the audio clips, Azmin, who is also the economic affairs minister, briefly replied: “I have not heard it yet.”
Earlier, the Pakatan Harapan leaders were in a three-hour presidential meeting at the Parliament building.
PKR leaders have dismissed the audio clips as “fake”.
In an immediate reaction, Rafizi, who is gunning for Azmin’s post in PKR at the coming party polls, said the voice was not Anwar’s, adding that he was “extremely sure” of this.
“Anwar’s voice is more baritone,” Rafizi said.
Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said the audio clips were the work of “irresponsible” people out to create “misinformation” in the lead up to the PKR elections.
“The aim is to sow discord and disharmony in the party,” he said.
The audio clips are believed to be not more than three days old, as a reference was made to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to helm Khazanah Nasional Berhad following the exit of its board members.