Anwar withdraws, Azizah retains post
With Anwar’s pull out, Wan Azizah is returned unopposed to retain the PKR presidency
K. Pragalath, Free Malaysia Today
Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today retained her position as the PKR president after her husband Anwar Ibrahim withdrew from challenging her in the party polls.
The party today announced that Anwar has decided to pull out from the race, allowing Wan Azizah to win unopposed.
The party is set to kick-start its nationwide polls this weekend.
PKR election committee director Johari Abdul said his committee had received Anwar’s letter expressing the intention to withdraw from the race.
“Anwar gave a letter last week, dated April 19, announcing his decision to quit,” said Johari who is also Sungai Petani MP during a press conference held at party headquarters.
Johari added that the letter merely stated Anwar’s wish to pull out from the party polls without giving any reasons.
He however revealed that it was probably to avoid interference from the BN-led government and the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
“Under the current circumstances, the legal team has advised him to concentrate on his case,” he said in reference to Anwar’s appeal against his five-year jail term for sodomy at the Federal Court.
“We do not want the government and ROS to interfere,” he said.
