Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is going for the PKR presidency in September.

After numerous requests, Anwar to contest PKR presidency

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had received calls to formally lead PKR as president since 2007 and will contest for the post at the party’s upcoming election in September.

In a statement, Anwar said previously he decided against the move due to obstacles placed against him by the authorities.

The position is currently held by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Anwar said his decision was made after discussions with Dr Wan Azizah, deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and other PKR leaders.

“After taking into account every view and need for the continuity of PKR ... I hereby offer myself to contest the position of PKR president.

“God willing, if I receive the mandate from the party grassroots throughout the country, I will steer

the party as president after the completion of PKR’s national congress, which will be held in November,” said Anwar.

He paid tribute to Dr Wan Azizah’s leadership of the party amid many trials and tribulations.

He said despite many challenges, Dr Wan Azizah and other allies along with the people succeeded in denting Barisan Nasional’s dominance before defeating the coalition in the last general election in May.

PKR was supposed to conduct its election last year, but the party deferred it by up to 18 months to prepare for the general election.

Explaining the timeline of the election, PKR secretarygeneral Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said nominations will open on July 27.

This will be followed by PKR division annual general meetings which will be held within a fiveweek period starting early August.

During the division annual general meetings, the agenda will be to table the annual report and annual financial report, debate on motions and elect representatives to the party national congress that will be held in November.

Each division will then convene another, separate oneday session where the voting delegates will cast their ballots.

“All divisions must hold their respective balloting within a nineweek period starting in September.

“The full results of the election will be announced after the end of the nineweek period and before the start of PKR national congress in November,” said Saifuddin.

In the last PKR election which was held in 2014, Dr Wan Azizah returned unopposed as president.

Azmin retained the deputy president post, defeating Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Saifuddin.

In the race for the four vicepresidential positions, two incumbent – Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tian Chua – retained their positions.

The other two contenders who also won the vicepresidential posts were Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and Rafizi Ramli.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad won the Youth chief post, while incumbent Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin retained her position.

Previously I decided against the move due to obstacles placed against me by y the authorities. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim