PKR Youth aspirant vice-chief Radzlan Jalaludin said despite the Court of Appeal finding opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim guilty of sodomy, the party de-facto leader is allowed to contest for the post of party president.

 

Should Anwar win, Radzlan who is also a lawyer, said he is allowed to hold the post if exempted by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in line with Section 9A (4) of the Registrar of Societies Act 1966.

 

The section stipulates any person who is subject to any disqualification may apply to the registrar for exemption and the registrar may, if he deems it proper to do so, grant it subject to terms and conditions.

 

Radzlan said there is no valid reason for the ROS to reject or prevent Anwar from using that provision to lead PKR as the party president and further strengthen PKR and Pakatan.

Anwar's move for the post of party president when he filed his nomination papers on Saturday, is seen in stark contrast to former DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, who chose to step down the same day, pending his appeal, after the KL High Court found him guilty of sedition.

 

Anwar's move attacked

Meanwhile, several newspapers reports political leaders attacking Anwar's candidacy for the party president's post, against his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

 

The Star reported that MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong as saying the world must be amused to see Wan Azizah ( left ) and Anwar slugging it out for the top party post.

 

Wee said never before in the history of Malaysian politics has there been such a fight between husband and wife for the top party post.

 

“I do not see how that helps in their pursuit for a more democratic nation and how that can help the democracy in Malaysia. This is beyond my imagination and I'm sure that I am not the only person who feels amused by their move,” the MCA deputy president was quoted.

 

Umno Supreme Council member, Abdul Rahman Dahlan described Anwar's move as irrational in The New Straits Times .

 

“PKR has become an irrational party. It is chaotic. Where can we find in history a husband and wife contesting the same post? Maybe Anwar can show us which country practises this, wife, husband and even the daughter (are contesting),” he said.

 

However, Malay daily Sinar Harian sees Wan Azizah defending the post as possibly a Plan B option. It quoted political scientist Sivamurugan Pandian who said it is a strategy to ensure Anwar remains in PKR.