KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim lost his cool today after he was asked by a reporter about accusations made against him by Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah, who quit PKR this week to be a Barisan Nasional-friendly independent.
Anwar lashed out at a reporter when asked to comment on Badrul's claim that PKR members were unhappy over the Opposition Leader for showing favouritism towards the party’s vice-president Azmin Ali.
The Permatang Pauh MP refused to answer the question and instead asked where the reporter was from.
“Where are you from? Berita Harian? The principles of ethics and trust must be practiced.
"Allah gave us the power to ask so we should not abuse it. Don’t use Badrul Hisham to insult the other PR members. We all know him and I don’t want to say something that I should not say about him as a party leader,” he snapped.
He also asked why the newspaper was bent on defending Badrul, "when everyone knows about his non-performance."
“Everyone knows his performance. Why does Berita Harian want to defend him?
"Because he is Umno. Is it because you feel responsible since you are working with Berita Harian? Even if you have to make a living, you don’t have to make until you have to be on your knees,” he said.
Earlier Anwar recalled a meeting with Badrul over his poor performance.
“I once called him six to seven months ago to discuss specifically about his performance and gave him my advice that he must work harder. I also noticed then that he had personal problems and since then he has had no improvements,” he said.
He said that PKR would have to implement a stricter vetting process in choosing future candidates.
“We were still new and did not have the strength in the last general election. That’s why we had under-performing candidates. I also apologise if there are any weaknesses in my leadership,” he added.
Anwar confirmed that he has warned PKR lawmakers that there will be changes if they did not perform.
“We have to take whatever action which is necessary to make sure that those entrusted with the authority and position must be carefully vetted and academically qualified and have a track record which is generally acceptable,” he said.
He also stressed that the party leadership was monitoring the situation in Sabah, adding that the party’s new state chief Ahmad Thamrin Jai should be given a chance to perform.
Ahmad was appointed the new Sabah chief, replacing Azmin Ali, after leaders from the state had threatened a revolt recently over the latter’s leadership.
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