Overtures on Azmin joining Gerakan.
Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau today disclosed meeting several Pakatan Harapan (PH) representatives who showed an interest in having PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali join his party.
The Opposition politician said the meeting took place before the PKR sex video scandal broke in May.
“I don’t know if they represented Azmin or anyone else. I don’t know, but I want to say that there were NGO leaders and PKR leaders and leaders from other parties of Pakatan Harapan who want to see Azmin’s entry in Gerakan,” he told a news conference in Sungai Petani, Kedah that was broadcast through Facebook.
“Not directly. Indirectly, there were PKR leaders and also organisations or NGOs who met and gave information saying Azmin wants to enter Gerakan,” he said.
Lau refused to reveal details of the emissaries.
Asked if the overtures came from the party’s top leadership or grassroots, he replied: “All levels”.
Declining to reveal the identities of those he met, Lau gave a broad answer that Gerakan’s door is open to all who share its ideology.
“Therefore, my answer is still the same. We welcome anyone who can agree with Gerakan’s ideology, and we welcome them into Gerakan,” he replied when asked about the discussions with the political delegation.
Lau acted coy when asked if he had received any direct calls from PKR leaders or met them.
“Oh dear, how can I mention things like that in such great detail?” he said.
Asked if any PKR leader approached him after the sex scandal to discuss Azmin, Lau said: “I don’t want to answer that question.”
Gerakan was once a major component party of Barisan Nasional. However, the party went on a downward spiral, starting in 2008, by losing control of Penang and now have zero seats in Parliament.
However, the party still has branches set up throughout the country – except in Sarawak – and has many valuable assets, including real estate and a university license.