Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will remain as Pakatan Harapan (PH) president even if her husband, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, secures the PKR presidency in the coming party polls.
Dr Wan Azizah said it was no issue as there was a “general sentiment” that her position as the Pakatan Harapan president will be sustained”.
As to whether she would take on the mantle of PKR de facto leader, which is currently held by Anwar, she said it has not been discussed.
“We have not had a discussion (on this). We will announce whether we will be retaining the post or otherwise because it is not in the party structure,” she told reporters at the Dewan Rakyat lobby today.
On whether the matter will be discussed by way of a motion raised in the party congress in November she replied: “not yet”.
Following Anwar’s recent statement that he would be contesting the party’s top post, it is widely understood that Dr Wan Azizah would not be contesting the PKR presidency.
Anwar said the decision was made after discussing the matter with Dr Wan Azizah, who has been the president for around two decades.
PKR Deputy President Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had previously said that the post of ‘de facto leader’ was created for Anwar in 2007 because he could not hold any posts at the time.
Azmin had also said he was not sure if a motion to retain Wan Azizah as de facto leader will be raised on the party congress but the party would hold discussions over all matters.