KAJANG: PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today brushed aside claims that she will be going up against her husband, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for the party’s presidential post.
The deputy prime minister also refuted claims that there were two camps in the party, ahead of its internal elections next month.
“There are no camps. I wish to refute claims about team Anwar and team Azizah. We are one team,” she said at Kajang PKR’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house today.
She was responding to reports that there were two camps in the party, one keen for her to stay on as PKR president, while the other wants Anwar to make a comeback.
It was also reported that the party grassroots appeared to be divided over who should contest for the post of president.
She said no decision had been made on whether she should contest the post.
“My husband is the party’s de facto leader and he is higher than president,” she added.
Meanwhile in GEORGE TOWN, PKR Permatang Pauh division Youth has backed Anwar to contest the party presidency.
Its deputy chief Haidhar Auni Dzolkapli said they supported PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin’s call for the party’s de facto leader to contest the party’s top post.
Haidhar said Anwar is now seen as a global icon after being granted the royal pardon in May.
“The visits and invitations received by (Datuk Seri) Anwar from both local and foreign dignitaries is a symbol of the respect he garners by those who have been waiting for his release.
“As such, we, at the grassroots, will give our fullest support to him to contest the party presidency,” he said.
Haidhar said, by doing so, this could ensure Anwar’s return to the country’s political scene and to lead PKR.
“With the party elections happening soon, now is the best time for Anwar to return to active politics, a move which will be supported by tens of thousands of PKR members,” he added.
On Friday, Dr Afif had said that Anwar should contest the president post to serve as a preparation for him to take over as the next Prime Minister, if he is indeed the candidate to succeed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He had said that as a party under the ruling government, necessary preparations had to be made for the future.
“If (Datuk Seri) Anwar is the candidate (as the next Prime Minister), then it is a must for him to contest for the PKR president’s post.
“I believe this will be supported by PKR members. This will activate his comeback to the party,” he was quoted as saying.
On Friday, PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had said that there was no decision made on the proposal that Anwar contests for the president post in the party elections.
He had said that the matter was still at the proposal stage, and that it was up to the party members to debate and discuss in the spirit of democracy within the party.
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