‘PM-designate may also be a woman’

Wan Azizah suggests possibility of a female candidate for prime minister’s post

KAJANG: A day before today’s Pakatan Harapan convention, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was tight-lipped about its choice for the prime ministerial candidate but instead suggested that it could be a woman.

The Pakatan president said the Opposition coalition has many qualified candidates and did not discount the possibility of a female candidate.

She urged all parties not to speculate on the issue and wait for the announcement at the Pakatan Harapan convention in Shah Alam today.

“We have many qualified candi- dates. A female can be prime minister. What’s wrong with that?” she told a press conference after launching the Pakatan Harapan Women’s convention here yesterday.

PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is reportedly not keen to have Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad named the prime minister’s candidate if the Opposition coalition wins the 14th general election.

Earlier reports had it that Dr Mahathir and Dr Wan Azizah would be named interim premier and deputy premier.

The Opposition coalition – PKR, DAP, Parti Amanah Negara and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia – discussed the matter during a retreat early last month.

On whether PKR had resolved its issues on the naming of a suitable candidate, Dr Wan Azizah said: “Why do you want to speculate? We are strong. There is no internal problem.”

Earlier in her speech, she said Anwar will be released from prison in June.

“Insyallah, he will be freed on June 11,” she said.

“Although he is not physically here, he is supporting our fight in spirit, especially during this chal- lenging time as we head for the election battle.”

Meanwhile, Wanita Pakatan Harapan chief Zuraida Kamaruddin suggested that Dr Mahathir be appointed a senior minister, instead of prime minister.

She added that given Dr Mahathir’s experience, he should promote himself to a better role and not hold a position he once held.

“I prefer to see him as a senior minister. Being an experienced statesman, he should go up and not go back to his old position,” she said.

Why do you want to speculate? We are strong. There is no internal problem. Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail