PKR Youth wants PAS chief to retract statement on Dr Wan Azizah’s MB eligibility

(Bernama) – Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Youth (PKR Youth) movement today urged PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to retract his statement that PKR President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was not eligible for the post of Selangor Mentri Besar.

According to its chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Hadi’s statement did not reflect the spirit of cooperation in Pakatan Rakyat, more so when it is said by one component party president about another component party president.

“No leader could escape the possibilities of weaknesses, and that should actually make a leader more democratic and not put aside the priority of consensus in making decisions,” he said in a statement, here today.

He said Dr Wan Azizah had led PKR since 1999 and was chosen as the opposition leader in 2008.

“The PKR president has created history by forming a multi-racial political party that has given vast opportunities for women to lead at various levels,” he said.

Nik Nazmi therefore urged Hadi to retract his statement that Dr Wan Azizah was unqualified and to respect the decision of both PAS and Pakatan Rakyat.

It was reported that Hadi had criticised Dr Wan Azizah in a “ceramah” on her ability to debate questions in parliament and the state legislative assembly. He also said that she was not qualified to become the Selangor Mentri Besar based on that criteria alone and not because she is a woman.

The crisis surrounding the Selangor MB seat started during the Kajang by-election when PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was nominated, apparently aimed at propelling him to become the new Selangor MB.

However, the plan failed when the court found Anwar guilty of sodomy, and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also PKR president, was nominated for the seat instead.

Since then there has been a lot mud-slinging between embattled Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and PKR, leading to the former being expelled from the party.