The PKR deputy president said the former opposition leader is a victim of tyranny, and that freeing Anwar was akin to freeing the people.

“This has always been our stand,” he told reporters after attending a meeting here last night.

Azmin, who is also Selangor menteri besar, was asked to comment on the criticism by several quarters – including DAP member Zaid Ibrahim and PPBM – both of whom said PKR are too preoccupied with making Anwar prime minister and his wife, party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the interim PM pending his release.

Anwar is currently serving a five-year jail term for sodomising his former aide. While he is scheduled to be released in 2020, the country’s laws prevent him from contesting in an election or holding a political position for five years after his release.

The subject of Anwar’s prime ministership arose again following the PKR national congress on Sunday, which saw leaders from PKR, DAP and Amanah holding up placards proclaiming support for Anwar as the next prime minister.

Former prime minister and PPBM chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the party’s president, Muhyiddin Yassin, however, had not joined them in the act, though they did sign a petition calling for Anwar’s release.

This led to the likes of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), a private think tank, and Zaid taking the party to task for pulling such a stunt.

Yesterday, PPBM Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, in a strongly worded statement, accused PKR of trying to force its obsession with Anwar onto others and embarrassing Mahathir and Muhyiddin.

Syed Saddiq also called for an independent survey to be carried out to gauge the people’s choice for prime minister.

However, Azmin said that was Syed Saddiq’s opinion. PH, he said, ought to focus on defeating Barisan Nasional in the 14th general election.

“After we win, we can discuss this.”