KUCHING, Sept 8: Three Members of Parliament (MPs) are willing to vacate their seats for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to return to the Dewan Rakyat.
Anwar told reporters after a meet-and-greet session with party members at Hilton Hotel here this afternoon that the final pick would be announced when the time is right.
“Ya, I think there will be (a seat vacated for me). I’m not sure. There are two or three seats in the list now. There are three, I think. So only one will be announced,” he said.
Asked if he will take up the offer, he replied, “Once they are announced. I’m not sure which one.”
This is the first time Anwar has spoken about a PKR parliamentary seat to be vacated to make way for him to return to Parliament.
In Kelantan last night, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli revealed that the party would vacate a parliamentary seat next week to allow Anwar to contest in a by-election.
According to a national English daily, Rafizi said PKR had taken the first step by making Anwar president.
“Our next step is to make him a Member of Parliament because many are saying Anwar is a nobody, not an MP, and merely a former prisoner.
“So I want to tell the people in Kelantan that next week, one parliamentary seat will be vacated to make way for Anwar to contest,” he was quoted as saying.
During the meet-and-greet session, Anwar told some 400 attendees that after becoming party president, he would wait for Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to retire gracefully before taking over the PM’s post.
He said he had forgiven Dr Mahathir for putting him in prison in the past and that there was no pressure for him to retire as prime minister.
“That time will come. Tun Mahathir has only been the current prime minister for a few months. There are a lot of things to fix and a lot of dirt to clean as a result of the previous government.
“When the time comes, the transition (from Dr Mahathir to Anwar) will be smooth,” opined Anwar.
He assured that when he becomes prime minister, he would continue Dr Mahathir’s work to fix and clean the government of corruption, including within PKR itself.
Anwar together with his daughter and Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah were hosted by Julau MP Larry Sng.
Also present were Larry’s father, Datuk Sng Chee Hua, Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin, former Marudi assemblyman Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran and Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang.
Meanwhile, Anwar was also asked about the alleged dispute between two camps in PKR Sarawak.
He replied, “Only one camp — Anwar camp.” — DayakDaily
