SEREMBAN: Embattled state PKR chief Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun has denied claims that he deliberately failed to meet party grassroots or organise activities in recent months, explaining that it was only because of Covid-19 restrictions.“How can I possibly hold programmes when we are not allowed to do so?” the Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar retorted when met outside the state legislative assembly building near here.

       Aminuddin said the state PKR had organised many programmes previously but these had to be halted in May.

       “I don’t see any problems. I will have a state meeting before the end of the month and sort things out,” he said.

       On Monday, four Negri PKR assemblymen alleged that many party supporters were unhappy with Aminuddin’s performance as state party chief.

       Datuk M. Ravi (Sri Tanjung), Datuk Dr Mohamad Rafie Ab Malek (Ampangan), Datuk Ismail Ahmad (Labu) and Datuk Michael Yek (Chuah) hoped that party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would step in to resolve the issue.

       Ravi, who is also state legislative assembly Deputy Speaker, said some party members had in April proposed that Aminuddin focus on running the state administration and vacate the post of state party chief for someone else.

       This, he said, was mainly to better prepare the state PKR for the next general election as Aminuddin had his hands full with the state government.

       Earlier on Sunday, a group of party members alleged that Aminuddin had failed to strengthen the party at the branch and division levels.

       In a statement, they claimed that he failed to make the party dominant among the Pakatan Harapan-led state government and also did not resolve problems faced by some divisions. They called for the state party leadership to be reshuffled.

       Pakatan Harapan holds 20 of the 36 state seats in Negri, with DAP holding 11, PKR six and Amanah three.

       Asked to respond to the call for him to relinquish his post as state PKR chief, Aminuddin said: “It’s all politics.”

       On whether he was prepared to step down as state PKR chief to focus on his work as Mentri Besar, Aminuddin said he was “comfortable” holding both positions.

       “We have the Covid-19 problem in Negri Sembilan very much under control.

       “So, I don’t see any problem,” he said, but added that he would leave it to Anwar to decide on what was best for the party.