Wan Azizah: Anwar is God's gift to Malaysians

By Rahmah Ghazali

PETALING JAYA: PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim today proclaimed that God has chosen her husband, Anwar Ibrahim, to lead Malaysians towards a better future, and there is no one else who could surpass his leadership strength.

In her keynote address to 1,500 delegates at the second day of the PKR national congress here, the doctor-turned-politician said that Anwar was no ordinary man.

"What is the real secret of his strength until today? My answer is, Anwar is an outstanding human being, given by God to lead the people. If he is an ordinary human being like us, he would have retreated and sunk in between hurdles and challenges," she said.

According to Wan Azizah, Anwar, who is also the party de facto, leader has faced impediments like no one else has.

"What has not Anwar faced? He was detained, put behind bars, beaten, tortured and mortified. Since Independence Day, there are no other leaders who have been slandered, insulted and tortured continuously like Anwar.

"But Anwar remains strong and committed to our struggle," she added.

Anwar, who currently sits as an Opposition Leader, was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 and jailed for sodomy and corruption.

Wan Azizah, who was the former Permatang Pauh MP before paving the way for her husband to make a comeback to Parliament, said that his leadership was needed to save the nation's image from being tarnished.

Although Anwar's leadership in the party looks solid because many leaders suggested that his position as de facto leader cannot be challenged, his future as Opposition Leader looks bleak.

This is because Pakatan Rakyat's arch rival, Barisan Nasional, seems intent on taking disciplinary action against Anwar over his “One Israel-Apco jibe” in Parliament a few months ago.

Besides, his second sodomy trial could also see him in jail again. - FMT