Why Anwar for PM? He is our symbol of ‘hope’, Pakatan Harapan says
(Malay Mail Online) – Pakatan Harapan may not have formalised a new policy framework yet, but its leaders have agreed to one thing: appointing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim its prime minister-designate.
The selection will mean that should the newly-formed alliance successfully wrest Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional (BN) the next federal polls, the leader now serving a five-year jail sentence for sodomy will be its choice for prime minister.
Although Anwar’s imprisonment means he cannot contest in elections for another five years after his five-year sentence is served, the opposition leaders insist that appointing him to the post is “not impossible”.
When asked why they still saw Anwar as their only pick for the post, the leaders said the leader was a symbol of “hope” to Malaysians.
“The reason why we proposed for him to be the candidate is because of the leadership vacuum. If you have a clear leader to point to, that helps to rally the supporters,” said DAP’s central executive committee member Liew Chin Tong (pic).
“Once it’s clear that it is Najib versus Anwar, then battleground become very clear,” the Kluang MP added, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“We just want to give hope to the public. From day one, Anwar has been under political imprisonment. That’s what we want to highlight,” Parti Amanah Negara deputy president Salahuddin Ayub told Malay Mail Online.
“In politics, there are opportunities. There is the arts of possibilities. It is not impossible.”
Liew pointed at what he called a precedence in Turkey, where Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became prime minister later even when his Justice and Development Party took power during his imprisonment.
On how they planned on appointing an imprisoned man to the post of prime minister, both Salahuddin and Liew pointed out that Pakatan Harapan could rely on a legal process, a pardon, or even a by-election. They did not, however, provide further details.
Commenting on the opposition’s apparent fixation on Anwar, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political analyst Dr Ahmad Nizamuddin Sulaiman lamented the dearth of capable and trusted leaders in Pakatan Harapan.
“Before this, even without Anwar, there was Nik Aziz to be a point of reference that everybody can rely on,” the associate professor said, referring to the late PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
“Sadly with him gone, there are differences between Hadi and Kit Siang, they can’t tolerate each other. That’s why most are more pessimistic about PH,” he suggested, referring to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.
On Tuesday, PKR, DAP and Amanah announced the formation of a new coalition to replace Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and extended an invitation for PAS to join, which the latter had since snubbed.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail told a news conference that the alliance will be named “Pakatan Harapan”, and that it will push for Anwar to be prime minister if it defeats Barisan Nasional (BN).
Apart from hudud and other key issues, the topic of prime minister-designate had in the past been a point of dissension among DAP, PKR and PAS that had formed the PR pact.
Both DAP and PKR had wanted Anwar to take on the post should the pact ever claim Putrajaya but PAS refused to yield and insisted that there were other qualified leaders to fill the post, namely its own party president Abdul Hadi.
Anwar is currently serving a five-year jail sentence in Sungai Buloh Prison after his appeal to the Federal Court against his second sodomy conviction was dismissed on February 10.
