Port Dickson MP clears path for Anwar’s comeback

PETALING JAYA, Sept 12 — Port Dickson MP First Admiral Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah has resigned to pave way for PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to run for office to eventually be prime minister.

After months of speculation of which constituency would be vacated for Anwar’s return to Parliament, the revelation was made by PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution today, followed by Danyal’s resignation announcement.

“It is time for Anwar to proceed to helm the nation in accordance to the Pakatan Harapan’s reform plan. Accordingly he needs to be a member of the House in the Malaysian Parliament.

“I wholeheartedly wanted to offer to vacate my seat as Port Dickson MP to enable a by-election to be called, so that Anwar could contest in the said parliamentary seat.

“I hereby announce my resignation as a member of the House with immediate effect. I have sent my resignation letter to the honourable Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat earlier today,” Danyal told a press conference at the PKR headquarters.

Thanking voters of his constituency, Danyal urged them to keep supporting the party and Anwar, before expressing confidence that the PKR president-elect will be triumphant.

He also expressed his belief that Anwar will be the country’s eighth prime minister.

Saifuddin said Port Dickson was chosen as PKR has contested there since 2008.

“For that, we consider PD as one of the safest seats. Next is to assemble the best brains among PKR with cooperation from our coalition partners to form a formidable election machinery,” the PKR secretary-general said.

The efforts will be directed by Anwar’s daughter and Permatang Pauh MP, Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Rumours that Danyal would make way for Anwar swirled yesterday after party leaders ruled out his return to Permatang Pauh or a move to Pandan, currently held by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

On August 8, PKR’s Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul had voiced his willingness to vacate his seat for Anwar, and had likened their relationship to that of brothers.

Selayang MP William Leong had also said PKR MPs were willing to vacate their seats in order to make way for Anwar’s return into politics.

This is the third time that a by-election has been intentionally triggered for Anwar to contest, including the Kajang Move that went awry.