I was just joking, Anwar says of 'it should have been me' remark

PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim clarified today he was only joking in his reported remarks that he should have been the one sworn in as prime minister on May 10.

Speaking during a press conference at PKR headquarters, Anwar insisted that he was only responding to questions from Singaporean students during a two-hour dialogue session at the Singapore Management University (SMU) yesterday.

"I used the term I was extremely delighted by the enormous support and that we have now formed a government under Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad).

"Then there was a question on 'your personal feelings'...whether you were the one supposed to be (prime minister)," he said.

"I said, of course, if I am not imprisoned, I will be (appointed) but now I am in prison. I was joking but that made the headlines," he said.

Anwar added that beyond his reported remarks, what failed to be highlighted was his emphasis on the need for all leaders to ensure the formation of a strong government under Mahathir's leadership.

To a question on what was going through his mind when watching Mahathir's oath-taking ceremony following Pakatan Harapan's general election victory, Channel News Asia quoted Anwar as saying: "You want me to be honest or politically correct? Politically correct, of course, I rejoiced, everybody was so elated."

“Look, Mahathir swearing in, (signalling a) new era for Malaysia. He came up with a statement saying that once Harapan wins, they will then submit an application to the king for immediate pardon (for me).

"But I also felt that I should have been there, you know? I did, I did. I do not want to lie to you, I did think about this [...] it should be me, not you.”

The report also said Anwar's response drew laughter from the crowd.

Earlier at the press conference, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail announced Anwar as Harapan's candidate for the upcoming Port Dickson by-election.

Also present were the rivalling PKR deputy president contenders, Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali and former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Minister Saifuddin Nasution as PKR secretary-general, and other top leaders. - Mkini