Speaking to delegates at the party’s congress at IDCC Shah Alam, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman noted that he had the chance to lead the country in September 2020 when a majority of MPs signed statutory declarations (SDs) backing him as prime minister.

However, he said he was forced to back down from his quest to become prime minister as he was asked to give assurances to key figures in Barisan Nasional and Umno that he would discontinue their court cases.

“I said I cannot do that. I didn’t apologise and I told them ‘Thank you, we will face each other at the next general election.

“Some have said that Anwar is done. He keeps on failing (to become prime minister).

“Hey! If you want me to be successful, but I have to bow down to the corrupt, then choose another president,” he told the delegates to thunderous applause.

In September 2020, Anwar announced that he had secured “strong, formidable and convincing” support from MPs to form a new government, six months after a Perikatan Nasional-led (PN) government was in place.

Anwar retained the PKR presidency for the 2022-2025 term after being the only person nominated for the party’s top post this year.

He also won the president’s post uncontested in 2018 following his release from prison, when he took over the position from his wife and former deputy prime minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.