‘No need to pray for MP to die’

Tender moment: Anwar kissing his wife Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail after the press conference at PKR headquarters.

PETALING JAYA: PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has shot down a suggestion that he wait for the death of an MP to trigger a by-election, calling it a “ridiculous” idea.

“That is a bengong (ridiculous) view. I don’t find it strange for any MPs to offer their seat for me to take over. We don’t need to pray for someone to die fast,” he said during a press conference at PKR headquarters yesterday.

Anwar said there were offers by PKR lawmakers to vacate their parliamentary seats for him.

The 70-year-old said he was in no rush to make a return to Parliament, as his focus was on the PKR elections.

.The consensus reached in Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto was that he would be made prime minister within two years.

“The transition of power will happen in two years’ time. If no one dies, then it must take place in five years. I don’t wish to dialogue long on this.

“What is more urgent are the upcoming PKR polls,” he added.

Selayang MP William Leong had previously said that PKR MPs were willing to vacate their seats to make way for Anwar’s return.

This was echoed by Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul, who said he was willing to vacate his seat for Anwar.

Speculation was rife that Batu MP P. Prabakaran was offered RM25mil to vacate his seat for Anwar, but the 22-year-old denied it.

Meanwhile, Anwar said he would continue to discuss parliamentary reforms with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“It is important to ensure power is not concentrated in the hands of the Cabinet. Parliament needs to be able to share power,” he said.

Anwar urged all quarters to give their full support to Dr Mahathir, as the Prime Minister must be “given space to lead the government without any form of pressure”.- Star