KUALA LUMPUR: Selayang member of parliament William Leong Jee Keen has expressed his readiness to step down to pave the way for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to replace him in the constituency.
Leong, responding to rumours on the move, said he would agree to it if asked.
“Yes, if I was asked to vacate my seat, I am willing to do so,” he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby.
He also believed that any of the 51 PKR members of parliament would also do the same if asked.
“No one will say no to give way for Anwar,” he said.
Leong however said no discussions have taken place between him and Anwar on the matter.
Asked on the opinion that by doing so, he would be disrespecting constituents who had voted for him in the 14th general election, Leong said that was not the issue.
“This not about not respecting the voters. We are all contesting under the same logo, which is PKR,” he said.
Leong also dismissed claims by some that PKR is treating by-elections like “a game”.
“This is not a game. Anwar is a victim of politics.
“If we were asked to (give way for him), why should we not we give him a chance.”
On Monday, Anwar’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and his daughter Nurul Izzah, said they would not be vacating their Pandan and Permatang Pauh seats, respectively, to trigger a by-election to enable Anwar to be voted in as a member of parliament.
On Sunday, Anwar unofficially won the PKR presidential post uncontested.
Anwar, as per Pakatan Harapan’s agreement, will take over the helm as prime minister in two years, replacing Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. However, he needs to become an MP to do so.