PARLIAMENT | PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar clarified that she remains against legal restrictions for Anwar Ibrahim and fellow vice-president Rafizi Ramli to exercise their political and civil rights.

“My exact sentiment is to remove previous unjust legislative shackles against Anwar and Rafizi from exercising their political and civil rights.

“It is called party elections because members are accorded the right to choose,” Nurul Izzah said in a Twitter post today.

Earlier, Nurul Izzah had said she is among many in the party who want to see Anwar’s rights returned so that he can lead the party and the Reformasi fight.

"There are many who have expressed that they want his (Anwar) rights to be returned and for him to lead the party and the Reformasi fight.

“I am not exempted. I want him to return to PKR, and this includes calls for personalities like Rafizi to get the same attention," Nurul Izzah said to reporters at the Parliament lobby earlier today.

She said many PKR leaders, including Anwar himself, had spoken up about Anwar becoming PKR president.

What happened to Anwar in the past must also be taken into consideration, she added.

"Anwar was denied his right to be in politics through the judiciary and one-sided sentencing," she said.

Anwar, who is currently the de facto leader of PKR, has confirmed that he will be running for the presidency in the coming party polls.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has also said that she would step aside for her husband if he should contest the post.

In an interview with The Star on June 11, Anwar had also reportedly brought up Rafizi's name when discussing candidates for the position of deputy prime minister once the former takes over the premiership from Mahathir.

On whether the deputy premiership would be assumed by PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali or Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, Anwar had jokingly said, "Rafizi is not in? How come?"

“Quote me, but please put it as me saying this in a jovial mood,” Anwar purportedly said with a laugh.

Meanwhile, outgoing PKR Women chief Zuraida Kamaruddin has urged her party not to prevent its members from challenging any party post, including the presidency.

The party polls will be held by the end of August, while nominations must be submitted by July 29.