Incoming PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today said that he has no intention of being caught between factions aligned to deputy presidency contenders Rafizi Ramli and Mohamed Azmin Ali in the current run-up to the party polls.

"I do not intend to be dragged by the contending individuals or forces within the party because this (contest) is done in the democratic spirit," Anwar said during a press conference at his new office in Petaling Jaya today.

"The only caution I have to make is that they (the PKR polls contenders) strictly observe ethical rules, procedures with no vote-buying, no intimidation, no slander […] because then this will run contrary to our party rules," he said.

Anwar said this when asked for comments on reports claiming that he was using Rafizi to push for his appointment as Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's successor.

"If you understand Rafizi as a public intellectual himself, he would not be that cheap to be easily induced by any personalities.

"He has his personal views, some I agree with, some I disagree with," Anwar added.

Several PKR leaders aligned to Rafizi have claimed there is a plot allegedly involving Azmin and backed by Mahathir to prevent Anwar from becoming PM within the next two years.

Among others, Kapar MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid has insisted that Anwar is appointed prime minister within the next two year, following a consensus reached among Harapan parties prior to their GE14 victory.

'Very, very patient'

Anwar, however, dismissed claims that he was impatient to take over the prime minister's post from Mahathir.

"Desperate forces will always use this argument.

"They have said since 1998 that Anwar is the designated prime minister," he said alluding to his removal as Mahathir's deputy prime minister which eventually triggered the reformasi movement and gave birth to PKR.

"For 20 years (he waited). I'm sure I have been very, very patient to wait for 20 years," he added.

PKR leaders aligned to Rafizi have campaigned on grounds that their faction's triumph over Azmin's would ensure that Anwar will be appointed as the nation's eighth prime minister.