PKR deputy president Azmin Ali may finally move out of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's shadow if the latter, who is facing the final stages of his sodomy appeal, is imprisoned.

According to The Economist report today, Anwar's incarceration will allow PKR's younger leaders to rise and Azmin, who is newly-minted Selangor Menteri Besar, is in the best position to benefit from this.

"Another jail sentence would make a martyr of him (Anwar). It would also give his party’s younger leaders a chance to shine.

In the PKR Azmin is the most promising. He cut his teeth as Anwar’s private secretary during his years in government and has proven a loyal deputy.

"But the capable 50-year-old can readily move out from his mentor’s shadow," said the online Asian version of the publication.

It added that Azmin has greater experience than PKR vice presidents Rafizi Ramli and Nurul Izzah Anwar, the opposition leader's daughter.

If Azmin succeeds in healing the wounds of the Selangor crisis, where he was appointed menteri besar as a compromise candidate, it would "convince voters" he can lead the country competently.

Pakatan had planned to install Anwar in office but the plan had to be shelved after the Court of Appeal on March 8 overturned a High Court decision freeing him from sodomising his former aide charge.

He was given a five-year jail term. Even though free on bail, Anwar was disqualified from contesting the Kajang by-election which would have allowed him to take up the Selangor’s top post.

Since then, the Pakatan component parties had been squabbling over who should fill the office, with PAS trying to grab it for itself.

The report noted that PAS had increasingly grown "illiberal' and Anwar had been instrumental in keeping such things in check.

However, it noted that Anwar was no longer as crucial to Pakatan as he was before.

As for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the report said the "weak" premier continues to parrot his economic policies while the country is embroiled in controversy.

"He has never looked less capable of carrying them out," it said.

This is amid his inability to control conservatives in his party and a purported bid by those aligned to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to unhorse him.