GE15: Anwar had his mettle tested for 11 years, most suitable PM candidate

IPOH - His vast leadership experience and undaunting political preseverance over the past 11 years were testament of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's mettle to be Pakatan Harapan's (PH) prime minister candidate in the coming 15th General Election (GE15).

This was the rally call from PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who added that Anwar -- the PKR president and PH chairman -- was the perfect choice for the role given the latter's previous ministerial background as former deputy prime minister and finance minister.

Anwar, he claimed, was now needed even more so as prime minister to solve the country's current economic uncertainty.

"The country's economy is collapsing at this time. It must be saved through a government that is responsible.

"We want to name a figure that has already been tested by time.

"And for 11 years he was abandoned and insulted, however, he held on with the support of loyal friends.

"The highest quality gold is the one that has been heated repeatedly making the most valuable gold," he said during his speech at a PH convention, here, yesterday.

The announcement marked Anwar's second stint in being named as PM candidate with the first being back in 2013 -- during his days leading the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat.

In GE14, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was named as PH's PM candidate; a move pundits believed allowed the coalition to best Barisan Nasional which has governed the country over the past 60 years.

In his speech yesterday, Saifuddin disclosed that Anwar's selection as PM candidate was agreed by the PH presidential Council through a series of closed-door meetings in Port Dickson and Seremban.

"In any clashes, we will appoint a general and in the context of the elections; we must name a Prime Minister candidate.

"In entering GE15, PH offers to the people Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as our PM candidate if they gives us their mandate," he said.

Saifuddin also announced that PH has already settled seat negotiations with the coalition's component parties and is now in the midst of finalising its negotiations with non-PH parties that it formed electoral pact with.

"The seat negotiations with non-PH parties will be peacefully resolved as soon as possible; perhaps in two or three days" he said.

PH's component parties are: PKR, Amanah, DAP and Upko; whereas its allies are: Malaysia United Democratic Alliance (Muda), Malaysia Advancement Party (MAP) and Malaysia Socialist Party.