PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s decision not to offer himself as Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for prime minister may have come as a surprise and every Harapan leader may have his or her own view on the matter.

But whether they agree or disagree with Anwar’s decision, most Harapan leaders spoken to, believe that the former opposition leader – who is currently serving time in prison – had signaled the importance to move on from the prime minister candidate issue that had been plaguing the opposition in recent months. 

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli believes that Anwar was concerned that too much focus was given on the coalition’s structure and leadership.

“He felt that somehow the issue of the prime minister candidate has become the single most important issue which is dangerous to our campaign as we work from the bottom up. 

“I read his statement as his plea to the Harapan leadership to move on from the prime minister candidate issue because that is not a pre-requisite to winning the general election,” said Rafizi to Malaysiakini. 

In saying this, the Pandan lawmaker pointed out that the then opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat did not have a menteri besar candidate for Selangor, prior to winning the state in the 2008 general election. 

“There are many ways to campaign and as always, the most important issues are always issues that are emotive to rakyat – their wellbeing as well as bread and butter issues.”

Rafizi, who said that he was “saddened” by Anwar’s decision, believes that the latter had felt responsible for ensuring that the discourse does not revolve around him.

“As if he is the stumbling block (for Harapan to move forward). That’s why he issued that statement.

“I was quite shocked because I thought we are moving way beyond that but I hope now that he has made that statement, we can actually move on and just focus on the election,” he said. 

“It remains to be seen whether the key leaders of Harapan will take heed but I hope they reflect on Anwar's appeal.”

Responding to quarters who had slammed Harapan due to its difficulty in naming its prime minister candidate, Rafizi argued how the matter was “not a small issue”.

“Our counter-argument to those people who say we can’t even agree on the candidate – the campaign to win the hearts and minds of the rakyat don't revolve around the prime minister candidate.

“In fact, the majority of fence-sitters and common Malaysians actually pay very little attention to who becomes prime minister more than how Harapan can improve their livelihood."

Citing the 13th general election, Rafizi pointed out how Pakatan Rakyat had focused more on making the lives of people better when it did not name its prime minister candidate. 

“Results have shown that this hasn't failed us.”

Rafizi’s party colleague, fellow PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar also stressed that they should “stop talking about the prime minister-designate”.

Speaking of her father, Nurul Izzah pointed out how he was instrumental in bringing success for the then opposition coalition in the last general election despite not having any official position in PKR. 

“Similarly, he was not officially named as the prime minister-designate and yet he was the single most powerful force that caused Pakatan Rakyat to bag the majority vote in the last general election.

“What makes anyone think that Harapan must officially name a prime minister-designate or a supreme leader to lead the alliance as a pre-requisite to winning the 14th general election?

“Didn’t Pakatan Rakyat win the majority vote in the last general election without officially naming a supreme leader or a prime minister-designate?” she said in a statement in response to a Malaysiakini report on the matter.

Explaining his decision yesterday, Anwar had said that the move was to encourage Harapan to focus on the general election instead of squabbling over who will be prime minister if the opposition coalition wins.

In the statement released through his party, Anwar had urged Harapan to pour all its efforts into more pressing matters, saying that Harapan's attention must be fixed on national policies, the ravages of the system, and on winning the 14th general election.

Like Rafizi, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said he felt saddened as he read the statement issued by Anwar. 

“Although everyone in Harapan hopes that he will be prime minister, we have to have a bigger heart and we should make bigger sacrifices than Anwar who is in prison.

“He had given a signal that it is important to strengthen Harapan and to not use our problems as reasons not to move forward.”

While he believes that everyone in Harapan had no qualms about Anwar being prime minister, Salahuddin pointed out how they must first take over Putrajaya to see that this becomes a reality.

“Even though Anwar has withdrawn himself, I think he would still be Malaysia’s prime minister in the future. But we have to ensure we set foot in Putrajaya first so that we can release him.”

For Salahuddin, the problem of who will be the prime minister if Harapan wins in the next general election can be solved afterward. 

“Because what the people want from us are solutions to the various problems plaguing the country.”

'Welcomed move'

Meanwhile, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) strategist Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff both welcomed the move and lauded Anwar’s “magnanimity” in the matter.

“What Anwar has done is important and we have to laud that move. It is a very welcomed move.

“The most important thing is he was magnanimous enough to issue the statement and ask the (opposition) alliance to focus on the real battlefront; winning the people and winning the election.”

Harapan, therefore, must take the cue from Anwar’s decision and focus on strengthening the opposition coalition as well as working out the best structure.

“If this can be done, then the people of Malaysia can look forward to a greater Malaysia. Otherwise, it's going to be same old, same old.”

Also lauding the move, Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he was “truly touched” by Anwar’s decision.

“Backing down from the prime ministership was his ultimate sacrifice.

“I only wish that more politicians will emulate his sacrifice for the nation. Focus on the rakyat and nothing else.”

Stressing that this was the time to unite, Saddiq also expressed hope to see the day in which both Anwar and Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad would bring back Malaysia to its “glorious days”.

Meanwhile, Anwar in his statement yesterday had also called on Harapan leaders to maintain the coalition’s consensus-based structure.

Expressing his agreement on this, Rafizi pointed out how voters have lent their support to the opposition due to its different values compared to Barisan Nasional.

“We don’t have a ‘big brother’ or feudalistic approach that only certain leaders can bring us to victory. Harapan has steadily built the confidence of the public although we don’t display the so-called unity BN has. 

“We may seem to be noisier and have conflicting statements but the public continued to support us because they appreciate the variety of opinions.

“I hope with Anwar's statement, those leaders who write off the importance of maintaining consensus as a basis of Harapan can reflect and reconsider that.”

Also agreeing with Anwar’s call, Salahuddin said the coalition’s consensus-based structure had always been its strength.

“We don’t want to be another BN.

“In Harapan, everyone is equal in the sense that we put every decision on the table and then we discuss for the sake of the country. So we must continue that spirit.”

Weighing in on the matter, Rais said the coalition had previously discussed two types of structures in its presidential council meeting.

“It is still an ongoing discussion, we believe these discussions, if done in a magnanimous way, especially after what Anwar has clearly indicated, I’m sure consensus can be reached, where we can offer the best structure and lineup for the people.

While PKR, Amanah and Bersatu leaders provided their response on the matter, DAP leaders contacted had declined to comment. 

Some claimed that the party has yet to discuss the matter while some said that they have yet to find out what Anwar had actually meant in his statement.

Following its inclusion into Harapan this year, Bersatu had lobbied for its president, Muhyiddin Yassin, to be nominated as the prime ministerial candidate.

The party even explored the possibility of Mahathir making a brief comeback as prime minister.

PKR, however, had been adamant that Anwar was its anointed prime ministerial candidate and that its president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Anwar's wife, would act as interim head of government pending his release from prison if the opposition won the next general election.

Both DAP and Amanah had been supportive of the idea that Anwar should ultimately be the prime minister if the opposition wins.

Currently incarcerated for sodomy, Anwar is expected to be released by the middle of next year on good behavior.

However, without a royal pardon, it would be impossible for him to make an immediate comeback as he would be banned from entering politics for five years.