PKR to meet on Permatang Pauh by-election

PKR will convene a meeting soon to decide its next move now that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is no longer eligible as a Member of Parliament, says Datuk Johari Abdul. – The Malaysian Insider pic, April 1, 2015.PKR will convene a meeting soon to decide its next move now that its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is no longer eligible as a Member of Parliament, the party's parliamentary whip said.

Datuk Johari Abdul said that although PKR was surprised with the decision by the Pardons Board to reject the appeal, the party will abide by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's decision.

"The Speaker has made his decision. We will abide by the rules and regulations," Johari, who is also Sungai Petani MP, told reporters in Parliament today.

"PKR will meet soon to strategise our next move."

Speaker Tan Sri Padikar Amin Mulia earlier announced in a press statement that Anwar had lost his eligibility to be a federal lawmaker following the Pardons Board's decision.

When asked who would take Anwar's position as opposition leader, Johari said that Pakatan Rakyat will discuss the matter.

"Give us time to decide on that," he added.

PAS parliamentary whip Datuk Mahfuz Omar, when met in Parliament, expressed similar sentiments, but added that the friction it currently has with DAP over the hudud issue would be immaterial in preparing for the impending Permatang Pauh by-election.

"That won't affect our cooperation. We will continue on and work together to ensure that PKR retains the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat.

"We will also discuss the issue of who wil‎l take over as opposition leader," the Pokok Sena MP.

Mahfuz also expressed dissatisfaction over the decision of the Speaker to backdate the notice of Anwar's loss of eligibility to March 16, saying it was Putrajaya's attempt at justifying moves not to allow the Opposition leader to attend the current parliamentary sitting.

"The notice by the Speaker came out today, but it says that Anwar lost his eligibility on March 16. So it is clear that they are trying to justify not allowing him to come to Parliament," he added.

- TMI