Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail stated today that she will step aside as PKR president should her husband Anwar Ibrahim decide to contest for the post in the upcoming party polls.

Wan Azizah said, however, that she will contest the presidency if it is decided that Anwar will remain de facto PKR leader.

"I won’t contest if he does (contest the presidency)," she was quoted saying in a report by The Malaysian Insight.

The party polls will be held by the end of August, while nominations will be on July 29.

The Malay Mail, meanwhile, reported that Wan Azizah – who has helmed the party for close to 20 years – as denying the existence of warring factions within PKR between her supporters and that of her husband.

She added that anyone who wishes to would thus be able to contest the presidency.

"There is no such thing as camp Azizah or camp Anwar leading up to the party elections. As such, anyone is free to contest the president post," she said.

Wan Azizah first became president of Parti Keadilan Nasional in 1999, which was formed during the Reformasi movement following Anwar's arrest and subsequent incarceration by then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

She was again elected president following the party's merger with Parti Rakyat Malaysia a few years later to become PKR.

The party has long been subject to reports of infighting. Such reports plagued the party in the lead up to the 14th general election, where it was alleged that a tug-of-war existed between the camps of deputy president Azmin Ali and vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

This even led PKR vice-president Tian Chua to caution Wan Azizah and Anwar against accommodating various lobby groups when determining its general election candidates.