Azmin denies talk he is next opposition leader

Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali today dismissed rumours that he is the most likely person to take over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's position as opposition leader, saying that the matter is still open for discussion.

The PKR deputy president, echoing DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's remark on the issue, insisted that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leadership has yet to discuss Anwar's replacement.

"We will have a meeting to discuss the question, tentatively this Friday," he said.

"We have many leaders in Pakatan Rakyat... Many of them are able and competent enough to lead PR and as opposition leader."

"We will discuss it this Friday. Decision will be based on consensus of all Pakatan leaders." he added.

Lim said today in Penang that DAP still saw Anwar as the Permatang Pauh MP until the Dewan Rakyat Speaker declares the seat vacant in Parliament in two weeks’ time.

"As long as he is MP, he remains the opposition leader of the Parliament and leader of PR." he said, dismissing talks about finding Anwar's replacement as mere speculation by the media.

With Anwar's guilty verdict yesterday, talks have been rife that PR needed to find a candidate to replace Anwar to ensure the survival of the coalition after two parties; DAP and PAS, in recent weeks, have been trading barbs over local council elections and hudud law issues.

Analysts believed because of this, the likely candidates will be from PKR, which is seen as the “middle ground” party in the coalition.

They mentioned two names; PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Azmin.

Meanwhile, Azmin today said apart from continuing as the opposition leader, Anwar will also stay on as the Selangor economic advisor.

"Remain... why not, he can convey his messages through lawyers, family. Certainly we need his advice," said Azmin when asked about the matter.

On a separate note, Azmin said he has no plans to reveal the names of the buyers of the Datum Jelatek project saying that it would be unfair to do so.

"It's not that we can't reveal, but is it fair? Is it fair to reveal the names of people buying properties? If you buy a car or property would you want me to reveal your name? Certainly not," he said.

He added that the Datum Jelatek project will continue and the state government will not entertain objections that are racist and extremist in nature.

"More importantly we must reject accusations from one or two people who play up religious and race sentiments."

The Federal Court yesterday dismissed Anwar's final appeal against his conviction and jail sentence for sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan on June 26, 2008.

Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria, who led a five-member panel, delivered the judgment and upheld the five-year jail term imposed by the Court of Appeal on March 7 last year. – February 11, 2015.

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