‘Was there an invitation?’ Anwar questions Azmin’s claim he was invited back to PKR

‘Was there an invitation?’ Anwar questions Azmin’s claim he was invited back to PKR



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PKR president, had recently said the party’s doors remained open to former leaders and reformists who wanted to return and contribute to its reform agenda. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin


Summary

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim questioned if an invitation was extended to former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali to return to the party.
• Anwar's query followed Azmin's decision not to rejoin PKR after leaving during the 2020 political crisis.
• Anwar stated that PKR remains open to former leaders and reformists wishing to support its reform agenda.

By Muhammad Yusry
First Published: Thursday, 27 Aug 2026 11:57 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today appeared to question whether former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali was among the former party leaders and reformists he had invited to return to the party.

“Was there an invitation? I was not informed,” Anwar told reporters after launching the National Innovation and Commercialisation Expo (Nice 2026) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here.

Anwar was responding to a question about Azmin’s decision not to rejoin PKR following his recent call for veterans or “otai Reformasi” to return to the party.

Azmin, who left PKR in 2020 following the political crisis that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government, had reportedly ruled out returning to the party.


Anwar, who is also PKR president, had recently said the party’s doors remained open to former leaders and reformists who wanted to return and contribute to its reform agenda.

He was among several PKR leaders who left the party in February 2020, triggering the political upheaval known as the Sheraton Move.