SHAH ALAM - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can continue as Prime Minister even if he no longer serves as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president in the upcoming party elections.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) political analyst Professor Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian emphasised that Anwar holds multiple key positions, including Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and the unity government leadership consultative council, which support his role as Prime Minister.
"As stated by PKR Information chief Fahmi Fadzil, the other positions held by Anwar allow him to remain Prime Minister.
"In this matter (the call for immediate party elections), I believe Anwar seeks to maintain stability without disrupting the continuity of governance at the federal level," he told Sinar on Monday.
Anwar had earlier urged the party to hold elections promptly to facilitate a smooth leadership transition in line with democratic principles.
He also emphasised the importance of a leadership team that combines both experienced and new members.
Meanwhile, Sivamurugan highlighted that Anwar’s call might also reflect his intention to avoid holding elections too close to the 16th General Election (GE16).
In the meantime, he said that the Tambun member of parliament wanted new leaders to understand the party’s aspirations, ideals and struggles.
"Having a balance of experienced and younger leaders is crucial for the party’s relevance in the face of contemporary political dynamics.
"Efforts are also being made to appoint younger leaders to significant positions, recognising them not just as future successors but as active contributors today," he added.