SHAH ALAM - PKR secretary general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail defended his role in negotiating with Umno leaders to remove former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and to make PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister.
He said he was not "being smart" in negotiating with Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak to get numbers to form a new government in 2021. "It was not about me discussing with them.
"I was given the duty and that included to discuss with politicians from Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
He said this during The "Berani Semuka: Siapa Layak Bersama Anwar?" (Face Off: Who deserves to be with Anwar?) debate was held at Karangkraf headquarters in Shah Alam and was live streamed across all Sinar Harian and Sinar Karangkraf platforms.
Also present is Kumpulan Karangkraf Deputy Chairman Datuk Muhamad Nasir Hamzah, Kumpulan Karangkraf Executive Director Akmal Eirfan Mohamed Fauzi, Sinar Harian Chief Executive Officer Farah Hussamuddin and Sinar Harian Editor-in-Chief Rozaid Rahman.
He and Rafizi Ramli are gunning for PKR's number 2 post when the party elections are held from May 13 to 18.
He said his role was also to talk to independent MPs, PAS and Umno.
"We needed support and commitment," Saifuddin said to a question asked by Rafizi during the debate.
Rafizi said Saifuddin was the first to discuss with Zahid and Najib on boosting the numbers of MPs to back PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be the prime minister after Muhyiddin.
Rafizi further asked if Saifuddin knew if both the duo would keep their promises.
Saifuddin said they had the legal documents that is why the letter was sent to Istana Negara.
"We sent the letter and legal documents to Istana Negara and this is not something to be played around with. It was not an undercover mission,” he said.
"Do I regret (doing what I did)? I would say no. I was only executing PH’s decision, and I made my contribution. And if that didn’t succeed, then certainly there is wisdom to it, and I have learned from that episode.”
As a former election director and a seasoned PKR member, Saifuddin is seen as an expert in strategic planning and psychological warfare to woo 1.3 million party members.