I will step down when Anwar becomes PM, says Wan Azizah

I will step down. Let’s not make it an issue. It has indeed been my intention from the beginning. DATUK SERI DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL deputy prime minister

ALOR STAR: Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said yesterday that she is prepared to step down as deputy prime minister when her husband, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, becomes prime minister.

“I will step down. Let’s not make it an issue.

“It has indeed been my intention from the beginning,” she said after a visit to the Sungai Kedah/Anak Bukit Flood Mitigation Project site here.

She said in accordance with an agreement, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be prime minister and she, deputy prime minister.

She was commenting on a statement by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, quoted by a news portal that she would resign as deputy prime minister once Anwar became prime minister, but the question of who would fill the position had yet to be determined.

On whether the transition period (for Anwar to become prime minister) would be expedited, she said the important thing was to provide the best service to the people who had given their mandate to the new government.

On the flood mitigation project, she said it was 70 per cent complete and would be fully completed in 18 months.

“Since 2010, about 46,000 flood victims have been evacuated and there have been many problems, such as damage to padi fields and property, as well as loss of lives.

“That’s why we want to expedite the project, which is expected to be completed in 2020,” she said.

“The Federal Government will help realise the project.

“A supplementary allocation of RM62 million was approved last year,” she said, adding that the allocation would be used to build a diversion road for two bridges in Jalan Alor Setar-Kangar and Jalan Alor Setar-Gunung Keriang.

Once completed, she said the flood problem would be resolved.