GEORGE TOWN, Aug 14 — PKR strategy director Sim Tze Tzin today dismissed claims of internal turmoil in the party, saying its core leadership remains united under president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Sim said the party’s upcoming national convention would provide delegates with a platform to raise concerns following electoral setbacks in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, while allowing leaders to identify and address weaknesses before the next general election.

"Of course, delegates will raise various issues and this is a platform for the leadership to hear their grievances and find solutions,” he told reporters at a press conference in Komtar here.

"We need to understand our weaknesses and work hard over the next year before the general election. There is still time for us to improve,” he added.

He said PKR’s Angkatan Muda Keadilan and Wanita wings had begun their conventions last night, while the party’s national convention would take place tomorrow.

Sim said PKR was not involved in any vote this weekend, referring to the separate DAP convention.

On a statement by PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar warning that the party would be weakened by having "two captains” and internal disputes, Sim said he had yet to read the full remarks and was therefore not in a position to comment.

However, he said he saw no internal upheaval in PKR.

"The leadership is very solid. The core leaders remain steadfast in the party,” he said.

Sim acknowledged that several MPs, including the Subang MP, had left PKR, but said their departures had long been anticipated.

"We have known for some time about the movements of a small group of leaders who had planned to do so, and the party has moved on,” he said.

"The core team remains intact and is working very well within the party leadership,” he said.

When asked whether PKR had two leaders at its helm, Sim said the party had only one "captain”.

"How can PKR have two captains? Our only captain is the prime minister, who is also the party president.

"I think this is very clear in Keadilan. There is only one general — unlike Perikatan Nasional, which has many issues and various captains. In Keadilan, we have only one, namely Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.