Ezam challenges Anwar

By Ian Mc Intyre

SUNGAI PETANI: The former protege of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has challenged the latter to an open debate on current political issues, including the latest accusations that Anwar had “masterminded” the Bukit Selambau state by-election.

Former PKR Youth head Ezam Mohd Noor issued the challenge after holding a ceramah (political address) here Monday evening, saying he was ready to debate Anwar on a one-to-one basis anytime.

“It must only be Anwar. I am not afraid of him as I want him to clarify many issues, especially on the fate of PKR whom I co-founded when he was imprisoned,” he said.

Ezam was one of Anwar’s closests aides before quitting the party. He joined Umno last year just before the 12th general election.

He alleged that Anwar had convinced the former Bukit Selambau assemblyman V. Arumugam to resign after an expose was forthcoming concerning morality issues over the latter’s personal conduct.

“He influenced Arumugam to resign, and arranged safe passage for him to India where he is now residing.

“This is a unique case as even the Kedah Mentri Besar (Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak) and state executive councillors were not notified of his resignation until much later,” Ezam said.

He also claimed that the main reason he left PKR was not because of any personal grouse with Anwar, the man he had once idolised and “went to jail for,” but because Anwar had “initiated the self-destruction of the party.”

“The basis of PKR is a multiracial party with Malays as the backbone. It was set up similar to the Barisan Nasional model.

“Anwar however destroyed its fabric by making empty promises to the Indians and Chinese and left out the Malay leaders,” he alleged.

Ezam also claimed he was not a racist and called for equal treatment to Chinese, Indians and other racial groups -- but only if Malays and Islam formed the backbone of the country’s political status.

TruthWatch: Interesting revelations about whats happening in PKR.