Anwar claims PAS wants him to be PM if Pakatan take Putrajaya

Anwar answered questions on his leadershp after giving a lecture for the Asian Renaissance Course at the Centre for Reform Democracy and Social Initiative in Puchong, in Selangor today - The Malaysian Inaisder pic by Nazir Sufari, August 30, 2014.Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today revealed that he is PAS's choice for the office of prime minister of Malaysia should Pakatan Rakyat take over Putrajaya, dismissing talks that the Islamist party prefers Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah instead for the top job.

“Even though it was never officially announced by PAS, wherever I went to, whether it was with Johor PAS or even in Kelantan, or in front of (PAS spiritual adviser Datuk) Nik Aziz Nik Mat, I was disclosed as their choice for prime minister,” said Anwar.

“I never reacted, and that is a good thing. I was once the deputy prime minister and then I was sent to the lock-up and beaten up. So there is no point in being full of myself,” he said in jest.

The PKR de facto leader was responding to questions from the audience on Pakatan’s stand over the matter, after delivering a lecture at the Centre for Reform, Democracy and Social Initiatives in Puchong.

On August 5, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli told a forum that Razaleigh had been the PAS leadership's choice for prime minister prior to the 13th general election.

Rafizi said that a delegation of PAS leaders comprising PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali, deputy president Mohamad Sabu and vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had informed Anwar of their decision a month before the May 5 polls.

PAS Research Centre operations director Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki later confirmed this, but added that Anwar had disagreed to the proposal and they had “closed the book without making any announcement”.

Anwar today downplayed the objections against him becoming the prime minister, saying that they were the views of a “small group”.

“There may be a few statements (disagreeing with my candidacy) from a small group,” said Anwar.

“It is just like in the PKR congress, where one or two delegates gave out (contrary) statements.”

In the meantime, Anwar also urged the people not to “punish” PAS over its role in the current Selangor menteri besar impasse, adding that the party had helped him a great deal when he was imprisoned in 1999.

- TMI