Anwar Ibrahim is set to be the next prime minister, regardless who gives up a seat for him.

Is there a choice for the PKR president-elect whether or not to contest a parliamentary seat?

At a superficial level, the fact that someone will have to vacate his or her seat would appear ugly and indecent. Some have argued that very culture of vacating a seat for someone else to contest is something abhorrent.

Moreover, it is happening in Harapan, a coalition that has promised good and decent politics.

But legally and to some extent morally, there is nothing wrong for one to resign from an electoral constituency to make way for someone else to contest.

In this regard, Anwar is not anyone but one who has all the qualities of becoming the next prime minister and what is more, he has been promised the post when Dr Mahathir Mohamad relinquishes his present post in two years.

If somebody does not resign as an elected member of parliament then Anwar might not be able to contest.

If there is delay in Anwar becoming an elected member of parliament then the possibility of him succeeding Mahathir might be slim or even non-existent.

Who resigns to make way for Anwar is something internal to party. Since Danyal Balagobal Abdullah has agreed to give up his seat for Anwar out of respect for the latter, why should the former’s decision be questioned or ridiculed?

Danyal gave up his parliamentary seat on his own accord without been pressured or coaxed. So his decision must be respected and accepted and not made into a political issue.

As I have commented earlier, Anwar has been unfairly denied the post of prime minister twice in the course of history this country.

Without Anwar, there would not have been 'reformasi', which culminated in the historic change in the last general election.

A man who worked and suffered so much for the betterment of the country cannot be denied the opportunity to become the next prime minister of the country.

When one understands Anwar's role and how he led the movement for political change, then one can fully fathom why there is an urgent need for Anwar to contest in the next by-election.

Mahathir was catapulted to power under the conditions created by the reformasi movement. While he provided the much-needed glue to PH take on Umno/BN in the last election, it was decided that his stint as a prime minister would be for period of two years.

Mahathir agreed and it was accepted by the coalition that he would be succeeded by Anwar at the appropriate time.

This agreement within Harapan was not pact that was akin to a Hobessian one where the Leviathan seldom returns power.

Far from it, Mahathir said recently that he would be succeeded by Anwar and that he will abide by the agreement.

Within Harapan, there is a sense of urgency that Anwar takes the necessary steps to ready himself for the much-coveted post.

Getting through the first hurdle is for someone to resign so that Anwar can contest and win in a parliamentary constituency.

The fuss at who is going to vacate the seat in favour of Anwar has now been settled.

P RAMASAMY is Penang deputy chief minister II and Perai assemblyperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.