Pakatan likely to discuss Anwar successor next week, Rafizi says

(Malay Mail Online) – The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) presidential council is expected to discuss Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s replacement as Opposition Leader when it convenes next, Rafizi Ramli said, adding that the meeting will likely take place next week.

The PKR secretary-general said that the meeting, to be chaired by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, will discuss the different nominees for the coveted post, which Anwar will have to relinquish soon due to his five-year jail sentence.

“Our meeting was supposed to convene last Friday but the late Tok Guru Nik Aziz (PAS spiritual leader) passed away and it was postponed.

“This week, it is the Chinese New Year celebration so there is a likelihood that the council will convene next week to discuss,” Rafizi told a press conference at PKR’s headquarters here.

Rafizi said that the question as to who will be the next Opposition leader for PR will only be decided after a motion is tabled and approved by the pact’s leaders.

Last Tuesday, the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s conviction of Anwar for sodomising his former political aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, also keeping a five-year jail sentence.

Anwar’s incarceration leaves PR without a clear leader.

The pact consists of PKR, the secular DAP and Islamist party PAS that have been butting heads with each other, despite coming together after Election 2008.

Last week, the highly-anticipated PR leadership council meeting that was originally set for Friday was cancelled after the death of PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in Kelantan.