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 ©The
Star (Used by permission)
by Royce Cheah
PETALING JAYA: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah
Wan Ismail has resigned as Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament to make way for
her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest in a by-election.
At a packed press conference at the party headquarters on Thursday, Dr Wan
Azizah said the decision was made after deliberations with her family, the PKR
leadership and its partners in the Pakatan Rakyat loose coalition of Opposition
parties.
"I have officially submitted my resignation as MP to the Parliament Speaker, Tan
Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, to make way for my husband, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest
as a candidate for Pakatan Rakyat in a by-election as soon as possible," she
said.
Dr Wan Azizah, who showed no emotion during the press conference, said it was
the right decision for Malaysia and that she would continue serving as PKR
president and chairman of the Peace Foundation.
Together with her were PKR vice-presidents Azmin Ali and R. Sivarasa, her
daughter and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai.
Dr Wan Azizah also thanked her supporters in Permatang Pauh who had stood by her
in the most difficult of times.
"Anwar Ibrahim has the experience and intelligence to reinvigorate our economy,
and the charisma and integrity to unite Malaysians.
"And I'm not saying this just because he is my husband," she added.
As to who would be taking over as the Opposition leader in Parliament, Dr Wan
Azizah said that would be discussed with other Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
Anwar, under a police investigation for allegedly sodomising a former aide Mohd
Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, had previously said he would contest in the
Kulim-Bandar Baharu parliamentary constituency, where an election petition is
pending.
The case is scheduled for hearing on Aug 19.
On Thursday, Anwar said he had decided to contest in Pematang Pauh instead
because the Kulim petition might take too long to settle.
He had previously said that he would have the numbers to form the government by
Sept 16, and said the sodomy allegation was a part of a conspiracy to stop him
from doing so.
He has denied the sodomy allegations and has filed a defamation suit against
Mohd Saiful.
The Election Commission is required under the law to call for a by-election
within 60 days.
Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the Commission would start
preparing for the by-election upon receiving notice from the Speaker.
Also on Thursday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar announced that the
police had wrapped up their investigations into the sodomy case, and have sent
their report to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action.
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Circular No 297/2008
This latest Anwar move leaves me with the impression that someone has pressed the panic button. I may be wrong.
Nevertheless, I trust that the by-election will be fought in a free and fair manner in accordance with what Pak Lah told the Umno division chief years ago that we have to "buat apa yang betul" or do what is right.
How the by-election is fought may well bring about Pak Lah's finest moment, delivered to him by none other than his fellow Penangite and erstwhile party comrade.
Of course, he can better this finest moment by ensuring that all the institutions of state are strengthened by, among others:
* Restoring the independence of the Judiciary.
* Emphasising the rule of law.
* Enhancing the neutrality of the civil service;
* Instilling the professionalism of our police force; and,
* Re-forging the freedom of the media.
Here comes an uninvited tip for Anwar. He should have waited to fight in another constituency. Dr Wan Azizah should have remained in Parliament, as she would have been more than helpful in many ways. But all is not lost.
Barring unforeseen incidents, Anwar will win hands down, but this is not his term to be Prime Minister, so has it been written - although I do not claim to be a clairvoyant.
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng