NURUL Izzah Anwar has been proposed as a candidate for the Seri Setia by-election, a move that will pave the way for her father, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, said party sources.

The Seri Setia move will begin the power-transition process for Anwar to replace Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister, as agreed among the four Pakatan Harapan component parties before the May 9 general election.

He needs to contest a parliamentary seat and Permatang Pauh is seen as a sure bet as it has returned only Anwar or his family members since he first won it as a Barisan Nasional candidate in 1982.

Sources also said after Nurul Izzah becomes a representative in the Selangor assembly, she would resign as MP.

But the proposal by the PKR senior leadership will also be considered by PKR Selangor, which is proposing the former Kota Anggerik assemblyman, Yaakob Sapari, who was dropped during GE14.

“Following the proposal for Nurul Izzah to give way to Anwar, Yaakob’s name was brought up because he is an experienced candidate,” said another source.

“Yaakob has proven his loyalty to the party even though he was not nominated in GE14,” he added, referring to the contribution of the Selangor PKR deputy chairman in the recent Sg Kandis by-election.

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday set the Seri Setia by-election to be held simultaneously with the Balakong by-election on September 8.

The Seri Setia seat fell vacant following the death of Prof Shaharuddin Badaruddin on August 2 from colon cancer.

Shaharudin won by 19,372 votes in GE14, defeating candidates from PAS, BN and an independent.

In the event Nurul Izzah vacates the Permatang Pauh seat, the two-term parliamentarian will be disqualified from sitting in the Dewan Rakyat seat for five years effective from the date of resignation, pursuant to Article 48 (6) of the federal constitution.

But it does not prohibit her from contesting for any state assembly seat.

A similar rule is in place for those who quit the state assembly to contest a parliamentary seat.

Political analyst Dr Faisal S. Hazis said if Nurul Izzah does move to a state seat, it will give her a new mission in Selangor politics.

“It is hard for her because she has been working hard in the Permatang Pauh seat, but it may happen,” said the director of the Asia Study Centre and the Malaysian Institute of International Studies (Ikmas).

“It is unreasonable if she wants to hold both seats.

“If Anwar is prime minister, Nurul Izzah will not be in Parliament because it will be considered to be nepotism.”

Nurul Izzah has repeatedly denied she would resign from the Permatang Pauh seat for her father, and described the seat as “her eternal love”.

“My first and second love is the Lembah Pantai parliament, but Permatang Pauh is my eternal love,” she told the media in Parliament on Monday.

Sources, however, believe the she will sacrifice her eternal love for the sake of her father’s comeback, and ensure he becomes prime minister.

Political analyst Associate Professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Nurul Izzah’s focus on Selangor would be good political strategy as it would check deputy president Azmin Ali’s grip on the state.

He said the party would most likely ensure she is given a place in the state exco.

“It is also seen to reduce the influence of Azmin in Selangor. These are steps set by Anwar to penetrate PKR Selangor which has been dominated by Azmin,” he said. – August 11, 2018.