SHAH ALAM: PKR Youth wing today moved a motion to name jailed opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister candidate for Pakatan Harapan.
PKR Youth Chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in his opening speech at the party's annual congress cited contributions made by Anwar which qualified him to be the next prime minister.
"His success in building the mass movement of 'big tent politics' and his way of communicating with the people is matchless.
"His record as the finance minister (in the 90's) showed his capability. His effort in empowering moderate Islam as well as uniting the different races in Asia has made him a respected leader," he said.
Anwar was imprisoned on charges of corruption and sodomy in 1998 but claimed that he was innocent and that the charges were politically motivated.
The former deputy prime minister was released from prison in 2004 and went on to lead the opposition coalition but was jailed again in 2015 on separate sodomy charges.
He is currently behind bars serving a five-year sentence.
Realising that it would take time before Anwar can become a prime minister even after he was released from prison, Nik Nazmi in his winding up speech later suggested for PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to take over the premiership.
"Before Anwar can lead us, who is the most suitable person to be our prime minister? I'd say Dr Wan Azizah as she is our president and the opposition leader.
"I don't see any problem with this because at the same time, we will finally have our first woman prime minister," he said.
Meanwhile, Nik Nazmi also called on party members to accept its newest ally, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) even if they felt uncomfortable with the party's chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's presence.
"Previously we told Dr Mahathir that a leader can't have absolute power. Now we can show him how it's like to resolve a complicated discussion and how we reach mutual decision.
"We don't just talk about power because the most important thing is how to run this country," he added.