Present at an iftar event with Azmin were both Azhar and his PAS rival, Abd Rani Osman.

Azmin, who is deputy PKR president, also hit out at his critics, who had been complaining about his lack of appearance in Sungai Besar.

“Before this, Khairy Jamaluddin asked: ‘Where is Azmin? He didn’t come, so he doesn’t support Amanah and Pakatan.’

“This is Umno’s way of thinking. I don’t have to do so much work in Sungai Besar just for PKR.

“This is Umno’s way — only when there is a by-election, they will come down to help people,” he told the crowd here.

Meanwhile, Azmin prayed that his friend, Abd Rani, who is also the Meru state assemblyman, would be successful as a leader even if it was only at the state level.

“I hope my friend Rani won’t be sad. We are friends in the DUN (state assembly). He has given a lot of support for the government’s policies since 2008.

“I pray he will be successful for us to be together in defying injustice by Putrajaya. We have to defeat Putrajaya together, regardless of our political background.”

This is the first time Azmin was seen campaigning for Pakatan Harapan after briefly turning up during nomination day on June 5.

He will come down again to Sungai Besar on Friday after going to Kuala Kangsar on Thursday.

PAS candidate Abd Rani said his appearance at the Pakatan Harapan event today should not be made into an issue.

“This morning, I was with (BN candidate) Budiman Mohd Zohdi and this afternoon I am here with the menteri besar.

“He is my menteri besar and I am here to meet him.”