‘WAN AZIZAH DPM EVEN IF ANWAR MADE PKR CHIEF’

She will remain as DPM based on PH’s consensus, says Saifuddin

DATUK Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will continue to be the deputy prime minister even if Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim won the PKR presidency in party elections next month.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this was based on the agreement within Pakatan Harapan (PH) made at its national convention on Jan 6.

Based on the consensus, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be prime minister, while Dr Wan Azizah would be deputy, and Anwar was expected to take over the country’s leadership in the next round.

“This means Dr Wan Azizah will continue holding the deputy prime minister’s post, while for Anwar, if there is no problem in holding the president’s post, he will remain as (PKR president).

“Anwar needs to contest a parliamentary seat (to have position in the cabinet)... We have yet to reach that level as he has yet to qualify to hold a government position. During that period, Dr Wan Azizah will remain as deputy prime minister,” he said after a Sabah PKR leaders’ gathering here.

At the gathering, Dr Wan Azizah reminded PKR members not to have cliques in the party election next month.

She asked them to support chosen leaders to strengthen the party’s position.

“We are in the midst of elections and this is important for democracy. There are differences in opinion, but we are in one party. We can support anyone.

“Don’t create cliques. We can choose (candidates), but at the end of the day, we will make amends even if we disagree.”

She said PKR members needed to be responsible party leaders and members.

“We must show unity and not fight with one another to gain positions.

“Sometimes we get positions and sometimes we don’t.

“We have fought for 20 years and now we have been chosen (to lead the country). We defeated a strong party (BN).”