KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — Nurul Izzah Anwar cannot represent Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said.

Malay language daily Berita Harian reported today that Shahidan said the opposition bloc should appoint someone with more experience, such as Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang or Marang MP Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, to take over Anwar’s post.

“The Parliament needs to respect the court’s decision. Nurul Izzah can speak in her seat or capacity as Lembah Pantai MP and can read out Anwar’s speech.

“If they want the opposition leader’s speech recorded, they need to appoint someone new to replace Anwar,” he said.

The Arau MP added, however, that it is ultimately Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia’s decision whether to allow Nurul Izzah to represent her father.

Nurul Izzah, meanwhile, pointed out that former Machang MP Datuk Saifuddin Nasution had also represented the opposition leader and read his speech during a Parliamentary sitting prior to this.

Anwar, who was sentenced to five years’ jail on February 10, still holds the opposition leader post as his family has submitted an appeal for a royal pardon over his sodomy conviction.

He also applied to attend the month-long Parliamentary sitting but the request was rejected by the Pardons Board.