Dr Afif contradicts Saifuddin: Wan Azizah will be DPM until Anwar returns to Parliament

(Malaysiakini) – Questions have been raised with regard to Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s status as deputy prime minister should she step aside as PKR president to allow her husband Anwar Ibrahim to contest the post in next month’s party polls.

However, PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin said the issue would only surface when Anwar returns to Parliament as an elected lawmaker.

At that point, he said, Anwar must decide what role he intended to play in government.

READ: Wan Azizah To Remain DPM Regardless Of PKR Election Outcome

“Anwar will have to decide whether he wants to be a backbencher, or if he wants to be deputy prime minister to Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and later transition to prime minister.

“If he is in cabinet, it is not proper if both he together with Wan Azizah are in the cabinet,” he told Malaysiakini.

Anwar’s previous stint as Mahathir’s number two did not end well. He was sacked and later charged in court after being accused of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.

Anwar, however, had claimed that the charges were fabricated by Mahathir.

However, the pair has since buried the hatchet and Mahathir, who became prime minister again after the May 9 general election, has promised to hand over the reins to Anwar.

Two weeks ago, Anwar confirmed he would contest the PKR president’s post, following which, Wan Azizah said she would step aside for her husband.

Meanwhile, Afif said Wan Azizah remaining as deputy prime minister until her husband returned to Parliament was in line with the people’s mandate for Pakatan Harapan, which promised to place her as Mahathir’s second-in-command.

He declined to comment on when Anwar could make a return to Parliament.