Anwar to contest for president in PKR polls

Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed that he will be running for the PKR presidency in the coming party polls.

In a statement, the Pakatan Harapan de facto leader said the decision to run was one made after discussing with wife and current party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. 

This, he said, was also in view of calls for him to take over party leadership from Wan Azizah, who has helmed the party for almost two decades following his ouster from government and subsequent incarceration by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In making this decision, he said considered Wan Azizah's service, as she had guided the party through many trials and tribulations since 1999, and even after he opted to pull out of the party presidency race in 2007 when Registrar of Societies had then threatened to de-register PKR should he contest.

"The perseverance of the president, deputy president, (PKR) leadership and grassroots, added to that the resolve of the rakyat, saw us make history in leading (then) Pakatan Rakyat with Azizah denying two-third (majority) to Umno-BN in GE12( 12th general election), wining the popular vote of more  than 51 percent in GE13 and stepping into Putrajaya as the largest Pakatan Harapan component party after May 9 (14th general election).

"Therefore, upon discussion with Azizah, deputy president and party leadership, as well as after taking into account some of the views on, and the requirements for PKR's continuity, and taking into account the iltizam bil jamaah (commitment to principles of the group/majority), I offer myself to contest the role of PKR president," he said in a statement.

Party polls will be held by the end of August, while nominations will be on July 29.

Wan Azizah had previously stated that she will make way for her husband should he opt to run for the presidency.

She had also denied that there was any truth to rumours of the existence of warring factions within PKR between her and her husband.

Wan Azizah is also currently deputy prime minister, but will reportedly step down once Anwar takes over the premiership from Mahathir, in a deal reached prior to the 14th general election. - Mkini