Azmin applauded them for their boldness in speaking out in the “interest of the party”, adding that their decision needed to be respected as they represented a vast majority of the youth wing.

“Certainly we need to respect the voice of the majority and that’s democracy in the party and also the democracy that we’ve practiced for all these years.

“I appreciate what they have said earlier, and as deputy president of the party, I will certainly consider this decision by AMK (PKR Youth) seriously,” he told reporters after the soft launch of the 2019 Kuala Lumpur Summit here today.

Last night, PKR Youth deputy chief Muhammad Hilman Idham insisted that Azmin officiate its congress this year, after the invitation to the latter was withdrawn.

Hilman, after a meeting of some members of the Youth executive council last night, said this was the decision arrived at and that he had the support of 132 of 196 PKR Youth division leaders nationwide.

Traditionally, the party’s deputy president is invited to open the national conventions of the party’s youth and women’s wings.

However, PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir today dismissed his deputy’s decision as invalid, saying last night’s meeting was not conducted according to procedures and regulations set by the party, including a proper quorum.

Meanwhile, Azmin said the cancellation of PKR’s Sarawak convention was the joint decision of the state’s leaders, stressing it was not the sole decision of state chief Baru Bian.

He added that it was decided following “latest developments” in the party.

Last week, Sarawak PKR hit out at PKR Youth for not inviting Azmin to officiate the wing’s congress next month, with Baru urging the central leadership to put its house in order.

The Sarawak leadership refused to budge from its decision not to hold the state-level party convention on Saturday, adding that they were willing to risk disciplinary action.