Naming Anwar as candidate for eighth PM is shameful – Ex-MP

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan's decision to nominate its de facto leader who is now in jail, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the candidate for the eighth prime minister if the coalition wins the 14th General Election is a very shameful act, said veteran politician Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

The former Member of Parliament for Pasir Mas said it was as though the opposition ignored the law and National Constitution and the sovereignty of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong when they made such a decision, what more when it confidently announced that Anwar would be given a Royal pardon.

He said it was really an insult to him that the opposition would nominate a former convict as prime minister... What was their objective?

“In Malaysia it is unusual that a convict who has not been released from prison is named as prime minister. Malaysia Boleh (It Is Possible in Malaysia),” he told a media conference, here yesterday.

On Sunday, the DAP, PKR, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), via the ‘Muafakat Pakatan Harapan', stated their determination to seek a royal pardon for Anwar as soon as they take over the national administration.

The move is to enable Anwar, who will be released on June 8, to immediately play a role in the Federal government and later be made the eighth prime minister.

Article 48 of the Federal Constitution clearly states that a person will lose his right to contest in the general election is he is convicted in court and jailed for not less than one year or fined not less than than RM2,000 and did not get a pardon.

Commenting further, Ibrahim said he found it strange to see the candidates for Pakatan Harapan, as though they had no other choice.

Ëventually, three family members are in government, Anwar, his wife and his daughter in the cabinet. So Malaysia belongs to Anwar Ibrahim, as though there are no other leaders who are capable and have integrity,”he said adding that his statement was not personal, but to state a fact.

Ibrahim, who is also Perkasa president, said that looking at the fact, he was not surprised if Pakatan Harapan ruled the country, they could do anything they wanted.

He also questioned Dr Mahathir's announcement as the Pakatan Harapan's interim prime minister merely for about six to 12 months, which he considered as an irrelevant period to rule a country. Bernama