ANWAR TICKS OFF NAJIB: Azizah picked as she's PKR president, not because she's my wife

PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was chosen as the candidate for the Selangor menteri besar post because she is party president and a capable former opposition leader.
Anwar said he was surprised that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was dragging his wife into the political polemics and raising nepotism after Wan Azizah’s nomination for the post, and said he did not want to be dragged into this discussion as it was public knowledge.
"Wan Azizah is nominated by the party not because she is the wife of Anwar but she is the president of the party and has a track record as leader of the opposition in the Malaysian Parliament," he said.
Anwar said this when met on the sidelines of his defamation suit against Foreign Minister Anifah Aman at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex today.
The matter was supposed to go on in the morning but had to be postponed because the minister's lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, was tied up at the Federal Court in Putrajaya.
On Monday, Kuala Lumpur High Court judicial commissioner Siti Khadijah Hassan Badjenid turned down twice Shafee's application to postpone the hearing as he was to be present in the Federal Court and that Anifah could not be present at the trial.
Najib, who is also BN chairperson, said at a Selangor Hari Raya function last night that nepotism was being openly practised in Selangor, where a fit elected representative was asked to resign and be replaced by Anwar's wife.
"Just imagine, if in BN we make our own wife as menteri besar, we will be accused of open nepotism. But this is happening in Selangor.
"It is up to the people in Selangor to think of what is good and appropriate to be done, based on wisdom and rationale, and this consideration will save the state and country as a whole,” Najib said.

Cracks do appear, admits Anwar
As for the Selangor menteri besar issue, Anwar admitted that in the eyes of Pakatan Rakyat supporters and members, there was a crack or disarray following the inconsistencies among coalition members regarding the candidate for menteri besar.
However, he maintained that who takes over as Selangor menteri besar is to be decided by PKR.
“In the spirit of Pakatan, this is a PKR seat and decision. We have never questioned the issue of a PAS candidate becoming the menteri besar in Perak, Kedah or in Kelantan. Hopefully, we can resolve this, but as far as we are concerned, the party's right has to be respected,” Anwar said.
The opposition leader also cited the joint press release issued by PKR and DAP, that they are sticking to Wan Azizah as Pakatan’s sole candidate for the post, and cited the 30 statutory declarations (SD) signed by Pakatan assemblypersons from DAP and PKR, as well as two from PAS.
To a question on the possibility of PAS not agreeing to Wan Azizah taking over, as the Islamist party did not want to sign anymore SDs, the Permatang Pauh MP said PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali had clarified differently.
“The only thing I can say is respect that decision in the spirit of the coalition. PAS did participate in the decision making process during the Aug 17 (presidential council) meeting and PAS was well represented by its deputy president, secretary-general and vice-presidents and the youth and women sections were all there.
“We are mindful of the fact there are differences in PAS’ position in endorsing and naming Azmin (Ali, PKR deputy president, right). But I think we need to respect his decision, where he (Azmin) said he is committed to the party decision and he has already signed a statutory declaration.
“If this (PAS action) was done before, I can understand but this is after the decision and public announcement and the SD.”
To another question on whether there will be a time frame on when they will submit the names as required by the palace, Anwar said he would leave it to the discretion of the Selangor Sultan.
He said they have already submitted an application for Wan Azizah to seek an audience with the ruler, together with the 30 SDs that have been signed.
“I think we are bound by the constitution and the Federal Court's decision where we have the majority in the House. There are questions raised as to whether we as parties need to write in (the name of Wan Azizah as menteri besar) after the 30 SDs have been submitted.”
“So, I think this needs to be considered. We leave it to the sultan, as deference has to be given to His Royal Highness with regard to his discretionary powers to also observe the sentiments expressed by the party members,” Anwar added. -M'kini