The contest between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, for the PKR presidency does not mean that the party is controlled by their family, says one of Anwar Ibrahim's longest serving officer and loyalist PKR vice-president Datuk Dr Mansor Othman.
He said the contest between Anwar and his wife for the No. 1 post might give such an impression but added that people should consider the scenario and background which led to such a situation. Mansor however did not explain what scenario or background he is referring to.
"We admit this is being used as a weapon to attack the party but we have to understand the scenario, the background, that led to this.
"We do not know what will happen to Anwar's court case. It was supposed to be this month but was brought forward to last month to stop him from contesting in the Kajang by-election.
"They knew we were going to do something about Selangor and in this case, they are doing the same thing. We must look at it in this context. It is not that the party is controlled by one family," he said.
On March 7, Anwar was found guilty of sodomising his former aide by the Appeals Court, which overturned a January 2012 decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court that had acquitted him.
Anwar is appealing against the decision. Failing which he will have to go to jail for five years. He will also lose his parliamentary seat in Permatang Pauh.
The reversed verdict also prevented Anwar from contesting in the Kajang by-election, which many observers said was a stepping stone towards him becoming Selangor menteri besar.
Anwar must also relinquish all positions he is holding in the party should his appeal against the conviction fails.
Mansor said there was no denying that the party was perceived to be controlled by Anwar's family but so far, members understood it.
Apart from Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah, their daughter Nurul Izzah is also a vice-president in the party. She is also seeking to keep her post in the party elections.
Mansor was speaking to reporters yesterday after nomination day at Yayasan Aman.
PKR's elected representatives, who are going for division posts, including Mansor, also face competition from other aspiring leaders.
Mansor, who is Nibong Tebal MP, is contesting the Nibong Tebal division chief post against Penang deputy speaker Datuk Maktar Shapee.
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