Sex scandal, fist fight set scene for Malaysia’s ruling PKR party AGM
- Youth members of the People’s Justice Party throw stones and punches in scuffle that underlines the fragile state of Pakatan Harapan’s biggest member
- Fracas comes just days after claims emerged that the party’s president Anwar Ibrahim had sexually assaulted a 26-year-old man
Stones were thrown and punches exchanged by youth members attending an annual meeting of the People’s Justice Party (PKR). Observers said the scuffle underlined the fragile state of the party, which has the most parliamentary seats and is part of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition.
The brawl comes just days after one faction threatened to hold a parallel party congress on the same day as the official national meeting, although party president and prime minister-hopeful Anwar Ibrahim put paid to this by threatening to sack any members who attended alternative gatherings.
The PKR has been beset by internal strife since the general election last year.
While the party has tried to put on a united front, public clashes between deputy president Azmin Ali, who is also a cabinet minister, and Anwar have raised eyebrows.