LETTER | Some activists have expressed their opinions since the announcement of Anwar Ibrahim’s impending by-election in Port Dickson (PD).

Most of these opinions are against Anwar for causing another by-election. Some within his own PKR party, too, have asked him to explain this by-election move.

I don’t know; sometimes I feel the elitist forces in this country are just too afraid of Anwar moving closer to become the next PM.

Why ask Anwar to explain his move? Isn’t it obvious that he is the prime minister-in-waiting and to be PM he must first become an MP? Why ask silly questions pretending to be democratic and rational?

We accuse Anwar of causing too many by-elections? Fair enough, but did past by-elections get the desired results? Instead of Anwar becoming menteri besar of Selangor, the Kajang move in 2014 caused him to become a “resident” of Sungai Buloh for another five years.

The subsequent by-election in Permatang Pauh in 2015 was due to his conviction and not his own doing.

I can only think of one by-election truly due to him which was in 2008 when his wife gave up the seat for him to re-enter Parliament. The coming PD by-election is to get him ready to become PM.

My question is why blame Anwar for causing all this when his whole life has been a wild roller-coaster? Why suddenly are we denying his pivotal roles in Pakatan Rakyat and Pakatan Harapan even when he was behind bars? Why can’t he take another shot at the premiership which was agreed upon earlier among the Harapan component parties?

Some queried why ask a new MP to resign and sacrifice and not his own wife or daughter. I believe there are strategic reasons for this. His daughter is a vice-president of the party. There are probably important roles for her in the hierarchy.

As for Wan Azizah, I think she can’t resign pending Anwar’s election as an MP. What would happen in between if some untoward event happens?

Ultimately, I think we must appreciate that there are at least MPs willing to resign and sacrifice for him. Did we see the MP of PD being coerced or forced to resign? Is this not a manifestation of Anwar’s leadership, at least on the surface?

I don’t think Anwar and his family are trying to dominate the party and the government. I don’t think the by-election is unnecessary and an inconvenience for the people. If there is any concern, it is Anwar’s fear of not being able to succeed Mahathir.

Sometimes politics is a lot of opinions with little facts and I am guilty of this as well.

I support the present Harapan government under the leadership of Mahathir. But Tun is one person and everyone on earth is finite.

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