'Anwar reviewing running for PKR president'
Nigel AwPublished: Apr 14, 2014 5:22 AM | Updated: Apr 14, 2014 2:14 PM
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has revealed that Anwar Ibrahim is reviewing his candidacy for the position of party president.
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has revealed that Anwar Ibrahim is reviewing his candidacy for the position of party president.
This follows uncertainty about Anwar's eligibility after he was sentenced to five years in jail for sodomy by the Court of Appeal on March 7.
"I understand Anwar has met and discussed with lawyer colleagues in the party for advice.
"I believe there will come a time when a decision is made," he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters afternoon.
However, Saifuddin (left) said he was not privy to the details of the legal discussions.
Anwar remains a free man as the same court had granted him a stay of execution pending appeal at the Federal Court.
Political observers were surprised when both Anwar and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail filed their nominations for PKR president.
Wan Azizah later revealed she was a back-up to Anwar if he were to be disqualified.
Weighing in on the party election, Saifuddin also responded to incumbent PKR deputy president Azmin Ali’s criticism of factionalism after he formed a pact with Nurul Izzah Anwar and Rafizi Ramli.
"If you follow the campaign of my two friends (opponents), we can see those standing on their stage also comprise certain leaders. That is the same as a pact.
"It is just whether you are prepared to announce it or not but it is not a big issue," he said.
Saifuddin added he went public with his pact as he believed Nurul Izzah and Rafizi were young leaders who represented the party's future and this offer to party voters had to be made clear.
Saifuddin is challenging Azmin Ali for the position of deputy president.
PKR is a Malay-based party
He also responded to Azmin's rebuttal against his statement that PKR was a Malay-based party.
Saifuddin said reiterated that the reality is PKR is a Malay-based party, but it carries a multi-racial agenda.
"The composition of PKR is 50 percent Malay, 12 percent Chinese, 20 percent Indians and 18 percent ethnic groups in Sabah and Sarawak, how do you define a party with this kind of composition?
"Azmin's interpretation is that it is a multiracial party, that is it. I take the perspective that it is a party, half of which comprise Malay Muslims but carries a multiracial agenda," he said.
He gave an example of PKR advocating for a need-based affirmative action policy instead of a race-based one.
As such, Saifuddin said he was not in contradiction with Azmin but he had merely gone a step further in analysing the party.
Saifuddin had made the remark in an interview with New Straits Times last week and this raised the ire of his opponents, with some suggesting he may be disqualified from the party election for giving an interview to a government-linked newspaper.
On this, Saifuddin said he had not heard any news about his possible disqualification and said he will leave the matter the party's election committee.
This follows uncertainty about Anwar's eligibility after he was sentenced to five years in jail for sodomy by the Court of Appeal on March 7.
"I understand Anwar has met and discussed with lawyer colleagues in the party for advice.
"I believe there will come a time when a decision is made," he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters afternoon.
However, Saifuddin (left) said he was not privy to the details of the legal discussions.Anwar remains a free man as the same court had granted him a stay of execution pending appeal at the Federal Court.
Political observers were surprised when both Anwar and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail filed their nominations for PKR president.
Wan Azizah later revealed she was a back-up to Anwar if he were to be disqualified.
Weighing in on the party election, Saifuddin also responded to incumbent PKR deputy president Azmin Ali’s criticism of factionalism after he formed a pact with Nurul Izzah Anwar and Rafizi Ramli.
"If you follow the campaign of my two friends (opponents), we can see those standing on their stage also comprise certain leaders. That is the same as a pact.
"It is just whether you are prepared to announce it or not but it is not a big issue," he said.
Saifuddin added he went public with his pact as he believed Nurul Izzah and Rafizi were young leaders who represented the party's future and this offer to party voters had to be made clear.
Saifuddin is challenging Azmin Ali for the position of deputy president.
PKR is a Malay-based party
He also responded to Azmin's rebuttal against his statement that PKR was a Malay-based party.
Saifuddin said reiterated that the reality is PKR is a Malay-based party, but it carries a multi-racial agenda.
"The composition of PKR is 50 percent Malay, 12 percent Chinese, 20 percent Indians and 18 percent ethnic groups in Sabah and Sarawak, how do you define a party with this kind of composition?
"Azmin's interpretation is that it is a multiracial party, that is it. I take the perspective that it is a party, half of which comprise Malay Muslims but carries a multiracial agenda," he said.
He gave an example of PKR advocating for a need-based affirmative action policy instead of a race-based one.
As such, Saifuddin said he was not in contradiction with Azmin but he had merely gone a step further in analysing the party.
Saifuddin had made the remark in an interview with New Straits Times last week and this raised the ire of his opponents, with some suggesting he may be disqualified from the party election for giving an interview to a government-linked newspaper.
On this, Saifuddin said he had not heard any news about his possible disqualification and said he will leave the matter the party's election committee.
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