Nurul Izzah keeps mum on 'Dr M as PM' proposal

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar has reserved her comments with regard to the proposal for Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad to become interim prime minister should the coalition win the 14th general election.

"I'll reserve my comments because I'm very encouraged by the ongoing discussions," she told reporters at her service centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

She had earlier given out certificates of appreciation and cash tokens to 65 students studying in Lembah Pantai who had excelled in the PT3 and UPSR examinations.

Meanwhile, when asked about her father and Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's stand on the matter, the Lembah Pantai MP said: "I'm a very proud practitioner of a democracy, including my party and I'm very proud that the de facto leader of Harapan is very aware of that fact, and it involves all stakeholders.

"Like I said earlier, I reserve my comments since we have positive ongoing discussions on the matter.”

On whether Anwar was aware of the proposal, Nurul Izzah pointed out how the PKR leader is currently in the hospital.

"There are limits as to visits. All our conversations are being monitored.

"He's not a free man who is able to engage with us, he does provide principles and key barometer of holding on to the reform agenda, making sure that it's paramount, but other than that he is very much a political prisoner," she said.

Nurul also pointed out that the proposal has yet to be confirmed.

"That's why I reserve my comments, because I love to have discussions and negotiations behind the scenes. I think we've had enough bad rep and bad publicity thanks to the BN-engineered media.

"I think the entire Umno general assembly was quite a detailed analysis of Mahathir's previous premiership.

"I think we're just going to focus on the reform agenda and our pledges based on what has been approved to be released by the Harapan secretariat. So just wait for Jan 7 where we will have our convention," she said.

Following Harapan's pre-general election retreat earlier this month, reports surfaced that a decision had been made to appoint Mahathir as prime minister and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as his deputy if Harapan wins the national polls.

However, DAP has insisted that it will choose Anwar as prime minister.

Mahathir himself has downplayed the prospect of becoming prime minister for the second time and said that he could become a prime ministerial candidate if "people are desperate".

He also claimed that the coalition did not make a final decision on this issue during the retreat.

'No new BN visits'

Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah said Anwar has yet to receive new visits from BN leaders.

"I think the last one was (Tourism and Culture Minister) Nazri (Abdul) Aziz.

"But who knows, it's Malaysia and the cabinet consists of so many ministers that we have to be ready for more visits."

Both Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had visited Anwar at the hospital last month.

On Anwar's current condition, Nurul Izzah said it would take the PKR de facto leader at least 10 weeks to recover after his latest surgery.

"The quality of life that he's receiving will also impact his movement. He has not been able to fully utilise his right arm but he's being well taken care of at the rehab centre in Cheras and we remain thankful.

"There are always restrictions as is the case for political prisoners, there are guards on standby 24 hours but the family would definitely want him to continue to be there by virtue if he goes back to prison, of course, any particular movement will be severely affected," she said.

Anwar underwent surgery last month due to an ongoing problem with his right shoulder.

The opposition leader, who is presently serving a five-year prison term, was temporarily allowed to be treated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

His family had made an appeal to the government to allow him to recover at the hospital instead of being sent back to prison.

In Feb 2015, the Federal Court upheld Anwar's sodomy conviction, a charge he claimed was politically motivated.

With good behaviour, Anwar is expected to be released from prison in the middle of next year.- Mkini