Anwar aims to fast-track return as MP, won't contest wife's seat

Anwar Ibrahim is contemplating fast-tracking his return to the Dewan Rakyat via a by-election within months.

“I may speed up the process, because there’s nothing wrong with me being a Member of Parliament,” the PKR de facto leader was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insight.

The party has yet to decide which seat he will contest, according to him.

However, Anwar brushed off allegations that he would contest for the Pandan seat, which is currently held by his wife and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

“Pandan would be problematic because Wan Azizah would resign earlier as deputy prime minister leaving a vacuum for PKR,” he said.

Anwar, who was released on May 15, said he has some travelling to do before returning to full-time politics.

“Next week, I will go to London to meet (former US vice-president) Al Gore. A few days after Hari Raya, I will be in Turkey because President (Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan has reminded me three times to pay a visit.

“And there are a few important meetings with world leaders who requested that I visit them. I feel good as a regular Malaysian citizen who can freely discuss matters and meet up with friends,” he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also extended an invitation to him, said the former deputy prime minister.

“When that round (of visits) is completed in a few months, then I would offer myself as a by-election candidate.”

“There are people who said I cannot be a parliamentarian. To be a minister, I’m not allowed. To be prime minister, not yet. And to be a parliamentarian, what is their problem?

“I’ve sat in jail for 10 years. I’ve been bashed left and right. Then they say I should not be a parliamentarian. I feel that view is excessive on the part of some people, allegedly because they’re afraid I would disrupt (the present administration).”

On Feb 10, 2015, the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal's decision to convict Anwar of a sodomy charge.

The apex court also upheld his five-year prison sentence.

Anwar has maintained that the charge, similar to the one against him in 1999 when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister, was fabricated.

He obtained a full pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on May 15. - Mkini