Its chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the wing had opted for the parliamentary opposition leader to lead the country in the event of a victory for the coalition, until PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is released from prison and can take over.
“She proved herself as an opposition head when she played a vital role in shaping PH after Pakatan Rakyat was terminated,” he said in his address at the 12th PKR Youth Congress at the Ideal Convention Centre here today.
“There is no problem in placing Wan Azizah as prime minister in transition while being the first woman prime minister in the country,” he added.
The announcement came on the heels of political observers criticising PH’s reluctance to announce its prime ministerial candidate to lead the opposition in the election, which is due by the middle of next year.
PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali had refused to name the candidate, saying priority should be placed on winning the election first.
Among the names that have been mentioned are PPBM president and former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and PPBM chairman and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar is serving a five-year jail term after losing his appeal at the Federal Court on Feb 10, 2015, to set aside his conviction on a charge of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008.
Earlier this month, Zaid Ibrahim, a former minister, hit out at PH’s unwillingness to identify its choice of candidate for Prime Minister.
Zaid, who joined DAP on Feb 7, also urged PH to opt for Mahathir as the elder politician commanded respect and support among the people, especially rural Malays, to counter Barisan Nasional led by Prime Minister Najib Razak.