Second Anwar letter personal note to me, says PKR veep
SUNGAI BESAR: PKR Vice-President Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin is insisting that the second letter from imprisoned former Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is a private note to him.
He admitted receiving the letter a few days after Anwar’s eight-page letter to PKR’s Central Leadership Council, was leaked to the media.
In that letter, Anwar had warned them to be wary of the Citizens’ Declaration, led by former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Shamsul Iskandar said he was wary that the Prisons Department might increase the security surrounding Anwar as they did after the first letter to the party was leaked.
“I plead with the Prisons Department not to do that (increase security). There are no issues here.
“It is a personal note to me and was given to me some time ago. As a de-facto leader, he (Anwar) gave me personal advice,” Shamsul Iskandar told reporters at an event in Sungai Nipah, here, today.
Asked why the letter was addressed to him, Shamsul Iskandar said he has known Anwar since his days as a student leader at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) in the early 1990s, when Anwar had served as president until 1998.
“The second note is not much different from the main letter.
“Maybe my relationship with Datuk Seri Anwar since my university days prompted him to further furnish me with more concise notes.”
However, Shamsul Iskander claimed the note would not be problematic for the Citizens’ Declaration – which PKR was in favour of.
“I don’t think the contents of the note are meant to stop our work with Tun Mahathir. We still respect the Citizens’ Declaration,” he said.
Yesterday, English daily The Star reported that a source said Anwar had issued a second letter from behind bars advising the PKR vice-president to exercise wisdom and restraint when dealing with Mahathir.
Previously, Anwar, in his first letter, had warned all PKR leaders to be cautious of working with Mahathir, warning it might derail their struggle.
Post a Comment