No need for Wan Azizah to give up DPM post, say PKR leaders

PETALING JAYA: There is no need for Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to step down and pave the way for her husband, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to become the country’s premier.

PKR Youth secretary Chua Wei Kiat said the agreement in Pakatan Harapan was that Dr Wan Azizah should remain as Deputy Prime Minister and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the Prime Minister until the handover of power to Anwar (to become the prime minister).

This was once again proposed and agreed upon unanimously in the PKR congress last year, although Dr Wan Azizah did not assume the post of party president, he noted.

“The Deputy Prime Minister post held by Dr Wan Azizah will not affect the transition of power.

“Pakatan leaders should not be confused, and should give enough room for this transition of power, which is currently being discussed by Dr Mahathir and Anwar, to happen,” said the Rawang assemblyman in a statement yesterday.

PKR central leadership council member Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also does not see the need for Dr Wan Azizah to step down, describing the calls for her to do so as irrelevant.

“Pakatan agreed for Dr Wan Azizah to be the Deputy Prime Minister during Dr Mahathir’s tenure as the Prime Minister.

“And Anwar will appoint his own deputy when he becomes the prime minister,” he said when contacted.

The Setiawangsa MP added that the agreement was made based on the consensus by all Pakatan coalition partners.

“This is as agreed to by Pakatan leaders, so it should not be an issue,” he said.