IT’S up to Pakatan Harapan and PKR to decide who will take over from Anwar Ibrahim, the coalition’s de facto leader and PKR president said as talk surfaces over him stepping aside for younger leaders. 

Anwar said he would not name a successor and instead leave it to the party to decide, as he believed in the democratic process and did not want to practise a “feudal political culture”.

Anwar also denied claims that he is grooming his daughter and PKR vice-president, Nurul Izzah, as his successor.  

“That is to be decided by the party, not me. I am not the sort to be designating my successor. I should allow for the team to work together and evolve from there,” Anwar told BFM radio on the Breakfast Grille show.   

“We have inherited this semi-authoritarian, semi-feudal system. I must discard that. If we truly believe in the reform agenda, we must allow younger leaders in the party opportunities for them to surface and perform. 

“It is a matter of time. By the time we have the next party elections, they will decide for themselves.”

Anwar said if he attempted to name a successor, this would only perpetuate the feudal political culture which contradicts his own democratic ideals.

“Most democratic countries and parties have no clear succession plan. You want democracy to evolve but at the same time, you want to maintain some sort of semi-feudal position where you designate your successor?

“If you’re a democratic party you must respect the democratic process.”

Nurul Izzah is focused on her position as Permatang Pauh MP, Anwar said, denying that he is holding the post open for her.

He also refuted claims that there was no clear succession plan between him and ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who promised to hand over the reins later this year.

Before that transition occurred, both Anwar and Dr Mahathir were betrayed by senior leaders in their respective parties and this triggered the collapse of the 22-month-old PH government. – April 29, 2020.