Third time an incumbent will make way for Anwar

PETALING JAYA: Should an elected representative resign to make way for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it will be the third time an incumbent has had to vacate a seat to make way for the latter within a decade.

In 2008, Anwar’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail stepped down as PKR’s Permatang Pauh MP to pave the way for his return to Parliament.

The Aug 26 by-election proved to be “fruitful” for Anwar, who won despite being charged with sodomy under Section 377B of the Penal Code on Aug 7 that year.

In a three-cornered contest against Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah and Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia’s Hanafi Hamat, he won with a handsome 15,671-vote majority.

The second event, famously referred to as the “Kajang move”, occurred in 2014 in what was widely seen as a political ploy to oust then Selangor mentri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and replace him with Anwar.

Incumbent Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh vacated the seat on Jan 27 to enable Anwar to contest the seat.

But Anwar was prevented from contesting after a conviction by the Court of Appeal on his sodomy case.

Dr Wan Azizah then replaced him as the candidate. She won the direct fight against Barisan’s Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun with a 5,379vote majority.