Independent Perak MP to make way for Anwar?

An independent lawmaker in Perak has reportedly offered his Parliament seat to PKR-president Anwar Ibrahim.

According to a news report, the MP, who was formerly with BN, made the offer during a recent meeting with Anwar.

"Winning the by-election should not be a problem for Anwar as Pakatan Harapan is in control of Putrajaya and the Perak state government," Free Malaysia Today quoted a source as saying.

Both Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali and Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Syed Abdul Fasal had contested and won as part of BN-Umno but announced their exit from the coalition following Harapan's win in the 14th general election.

When announcing his decision, Noor Azmi openly declared his support for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and said he was now an independent MP with plans to join Bersatu.

He had won Bagan Serai with a wafer-thin majority, polling just 172 votes more than his PAS rival Rohaya Bakar.

Three days after Noor Azmi's exit, Syed Abu Hussin announced his decision to become an independent MP because he was frustrated with the results of the recent Umno elections.

Syed Abu Hussin, who said he did not intend on joining any other party, won Bukit Gantang with a 4,089 majority in a three-cornered fight with PKR and PAS.

Previously, PKR's Selayang MP William Leong and Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul had also offered to step down for Anwar.

Meanwhile, Anwar’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their daughter Nurul Izzah have both insisted that they would not be vacating their seats for him.

Anwar has said that he intends to return as an MP and a backbencher but would first discuss his plans with Mahathir.

He had first hinted his desire to return to Parliament when stumping for PKR’s Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni in the Sungai Kandis state seat by-election.

Malaysiakini is contacting Anwar for comment. -Mkini