“We must also ask ourselves whether we will continue to get the people’s mandate if they see us constantly fighting for power, when without realizing that it is the fighting that will cause us to lose power,” he said.

PKR, helmed by its president Anwar and deputy chief Azmin, is the largest party in the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, holding 50 out of the bloc’s 129 seats.

Political analyst Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani said the latest developments suggested the headline-grabbing tussle “will very likely end with an uneasy truce”, because both Azmin and Anwar – designated to succeed 94-year-old Mahathir – had nothing to gain by confronting each other at this stage.

Anwar and Azmin Ali trade barbs as sex video scandal escalates

Because of the PKR’s immense influence, some observers had previously cautioned that any open clash between its two top leaders could severely hurt Pakatan Harapan – especially as political opponents it defeated in last year’s general election begin to regroup.

Friday’s event was to be held in Port Dickson, the constituency of PKR President Anwar Ibrahim.

Azmin, the Economic Affairs Minister and PKR deputy chief, is not expected to attend the event but will hold a “thanksgiving prayer” on Sunday.

AZMIN IN THE CLEAR?

People close to Azmin said the police statement is the clearest indication yet that the 54-year-old politician was not the person in the clip, and that he is a victim of a political ploy.

In his statement, police chief Abdul Hamid said the video was authentic and that people were paid “hundreds of thousands of ringgit” to circulate it, with an unnamed political party’s leader masterminding the plot.

Malaysian police clear Azmin Ali in gay sex scandal

Some PKR insiders in Azmin’s camp have questioned whether, Anwar, wary of growing speculation that Mahathir prefers the economic affairs minister as his successor, had plotted the video’s release as a means to discredit the younger politician.

71-year-old Anwar has warned that such talk is slanderous.

After Thursday’s statement by the police chief, Azmin loyalists and his children took to social media to express their relief. Azmin himself tweeted: “Alhamdulillah Syukur” [Thanks be to God].

While he and Anwar did not make public comments on Friday, loyalists from both their factions in PKR weighed in.

Amiruddin Shaari, the chief minister of Selangor widely viewed as a key lieutenant in Azmin’s faction of PKR, was quoted by local media as saying the mastermind behind the sex tape needed to be brought to justice.

“However, they (the accused) also need justice and should be given the opportunity to defend themselves and the like if they believe they are innocent,” he was quoted as saying by Sun Daily.

Meanwhile, six state PKR chiefs – the party has a presence in all 13 Malaysian states – on Friday signed a statement declaring “full and undivided commitment” to Anwar.

CEASEFIRE, FOR NOW

Observers said while there expect a ceasefire for now – especially following Mahathir’s intervention – the rivalry between the two leaders is likely to escalate in the medium term.

Azmil Tayeb, a political scientist with Malaysia’s University of Science, said the sex tape saga had likely strengthened Azmin’s hand “while Anwar has overplayed his hand by backing Azmin into a corner”.

“Azmin has a strong base within the party and other PKR members who might not be fond of Anwar and have sympathy for Azmin might even switch over to Azmin’s camp as an act of solidarity and for the sake of party cohesion,” the researcher said.

Malaysia’s dirty politics returns with gay sex video leak

A splintering of the party, a long talked about scenario given increasing signs of the Azmin-Anwar rivalry, is a possibility if the current situation is not “dealt with promptly”, Azmi said.

Analysts said Mahathir’s view and comments on the situation is likely to be intensely parsed.

Few observers contest that the elder statesman since last May’s election has been grooming Azmin – with the help of his top confidante Daim Zainuddin.

Anwar and Mahathir spent many years at odds but found common cause to defeat former prime minister Najib Razak at last year’s election, bringing about a seismic shift in the country’s politics.

Mahathir has denied suggestions that he is thinking of reneging on a coalition agreement for Anwar to succeed him some time in the current electoral term.

Additional reporting by Reuters

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