The economic affairs minister also claimed he was unfairly targeted by certain quarters for skipping yesterday’s meeting attended by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

“As leaders of the ruling party, we have responsibilities to the government and the party,” he said when met at the Selangor state assembly here.

“Sometimes government work needs to be done, that is also our responsibility. Responsibilities to the party also have to be fulfilled, we must do both.”

Azmin said there were times his ministerial affairs clashed with party meetings.

“Why target me?” he asked.

Yesterday, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reminded party leaders to prioritise party programmes.

He said they had been given notice on party meetings several months ahead.

Azmin’s absence yesterday at the PKR leadership meeting was the second party event he missed after staying away from a retreat in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

There has been speculation that he is eyeing to join Gerakan as tension persists between him and Anwar over a gay sex video.

Anwar had said that Azmin should quit the Cabinet if it was true that he was one of the two men in the video.