PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin has called for the ketua umum or de facto leader post to be incorporated into the party constitution.

NONE In her policy speech at the PKR Wanita national congress in Petaling Jaya today, Zuraida said that the position, helmed by party founder Anwar Ibrahim, should be made official in order that proper recognition is accorded.

"With Anwar, I don't have to speak at length about him because he has previously been denied his rights and family.

"It is because of him that Keadilan (PKR’s original name) is formed and he has to be given due recognition, specifically for him," she said, adding that the post is meant for no one else.

NONE In the 2007 national party congress, a resolution was passed to make Anwar the de facto leader as he was still subject to a five-year ban from holding any political positions due to his previous court conviction.

That year, Anwar was nominated to contest for the PKR presidency but pulled out at the eleventh hour over fears that the authorities will prosecute him for violating the ban should he win.

Only Anwar can be de facto leader

At the press conference later, she later insisted that the position is only reserved for Anwar and cannot be contested by anyone.

"He's the one who started this struggle, this movement. He's the symbol,” said Zuraida.

She said that Anwar is recognised both locally and internationally and the party must capitalise on what she described as his “high credibility”.

NONE “This is why we want to install him formally into the party structure,"  said Zuraida.

When asked if it will conflict with the post of the president, currently held by Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Zuraida said that official recognition of the de facto leader’s post will instead enhance the role of the president.

"We already have him here as a mentor for the party and to lead Pakatan Rakyat," she said.

She also said the main role of the de facto leader is to consolidate the party and to build the party's international image.

Additional reporting by Lee Long Hui

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