Now, PKR veep says no need to name PM candidate before GE14
(MMO) – After Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim withdrew his name as Pakatan Harapan’s prime minister-designate, a PKR leader said there was no need to name a candidate before the next general elections.
PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is also Anwar’s daughter, explained that even when heading into the last general elections, then-Opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat did not name anyone for the country’s top post.
“What makes anyone think that it must officially name a PM designate or a supreme leader to lead the alliance as a prerequisite to winning GE 14?
“Didn’t Pakatan Rakyat win the majority vote in GE 13 without officially naming a supreme leader or a PM-designate?,” she posted on Facebook today.
The Lembah Pantai MP also agreed with Anwar’s stand that Opposition leaders, including those from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), put aside their power struggle and focus on winning the polls.
“Anwar is right, Pakatan Harapan must continue to work on the success formula of Pakatan Rakyat. Consensus and equality and mutual respect among the component parties.
“Stop talking about PM-designate or supreme leader. Sweep aside selfish and parochial interests and focus only on winning GE 14, and success will await us,” Nurul Izzah said.
Anwar issued a statement yesterday saying that he decided not to offer himself as candidate for prime minister so that Pakatan Harapan could focus on the 14th general elections.
The PKR de facto leader also said PPBM’s proposal to control Pakatan Harapan’s chairman and president posts would make the federal Opposition pact like the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
Last week, PPBM proposed that its leaders Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin be appointed Pakatan Harapan’s chairman and president, with Anwar as adviser.
PPBM only officially joined Pakatan Harapan in March. The coalition is planning to formally register with the Registrar of Societies, ahead of the 14th general election due by August next year.