As PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim awaits the sodomy trial verdict today, the question on the minds of many is that of succession.

As the leader of Pakatan Rakyat's anchor party, he had played the role of both mediator and moderator between the leaders of the DAP and PAS.

But according to Anwar, Pakatan since 2008 has matured to a level where he no longer needs to be the glue that sticks the parties together.

"Today, we leaders get drafts (of plans), which make it very easy, unlike the initial period (of the coalition).

"Of course, with my ego, I don't want people to underestimate my role, but frankly it's not really that critical any more,” he said.

In an interview with Malaysiakini last week, Anwar added that as president of PKR, his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has also been an active participant of the Pakatan leadership council and can represent the party if he is sent to jail again.

All the same, the Permatang Pauh MP admitted that for Pakatan, the thorny issue of hudud remained, and this could cause fissures that require careful mediation.

Recalling that he had a “very tough” time being the go-between for DAP and PAS over the issue, Anwar said he expects discussions to be equally difficult should Pakatan win the next general election.

And for that, he advises them to “wait for (him) to get out jail”, if he is indeed incarcerated and a change in government occurs.

“We will say to (those wanting to raise the issue) to wait until I get out (of jail), lah . This charge is political, so why should I be in jail after we take over? Of course we have to follow the process (for a pardon),” he said.

Nurul Izzah for Permatang Pauh?

Keeping his cards close to his chest over his 'chosen' successor, Anwar refuses to play favourite between touted 'heirs', his daughter and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah and deputy president Azmin Ali.

Both appear to be pitted against each other, with the young Lembah Pantai MP seemingly receiving the backing.

Aware of this, Anwar says both are “close to him”, but heaps praises on his daughter, who he says is “underestimated” and who is is fully aware of those wanting to “use her” for their own agenda.

Interestingly, he reveals that Nurul Izzah, who is facing a tough fight to defend her parliamentary seat, is among the candidates mooted to safeguard Anwar's traditional seat of Permatang Pauh if her father is locked up.

Other candidates proposed for the Anwar stronghold are Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Mansor Othman and more interestingly, one of Anwar's other four daughters.

But the father of six “discourages” his children's involvement in politics, knowing the kind of “ruthless and oppressive system” they will be facing.

“They'll be abused; it'll be difficult,” he said, though adding that it was their right to be involved in politics if they chose to.

When Anwar was imprisoned in 1999, Wan Azizah held his seat. She vacated the seat for Anwar in 2008 and is therefore disqualified from contesting in the upcoming election.