Anwar Starts His Move To Consolidate Power By Announcing He Will Contest PKR Presidency
He revealed that the decision comes after discussions with the party's leadership.
By Katrina Khairul Azman — 15 Jul 2018, 03:08 PM
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today, 15 July, that he will be contesting the PKR presidency at the party's upcoming polls in September
"Lately, there have been many views about the need for me to lead PKR and to replace Azizah as the president. I have carefully considered each option," he wrote in a statement on his Facebook page.
"God willing, if the mandate is obtained from party grassroots throughout the country, I will lead the party as President after the completion of the National Congress of Keadilan in November 2018."
After receiving a full pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V in May for a sodomy conviction, Anwar is now eligible to contest for the position in the party he founded.
Anwar revealed that his decision to contest comes after discussions with the party's leadership, president Dr Wan Azizah and deputy president Azman Ali
His wife and deputy prime minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has held the position uncontested for more than a decade, Channel NewsAsia reported.
The decision by Anwar to run for PKR presidency is seen by many as the de facto leader's move to consolidate power in the party, as the former deputy prime minister steadily prepares to take over Putrajaya from Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as part of the promise to him before GE14.
Despite the fact that his is currently recovering from a surgery in Turkey, Lembah Pantai MP Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil opined that Anwar's health does not pose any issues in regards to the presidential post
Ahmad Fahmi told reporters that, "His health condition is not a problem... he is now recovering, and being monitored by doctors," New Straits Times reported.
