In a statement, Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa also defended the decision of the PKR president elect to stand in Port Dickson instead of Pandan, the parliamentary seat of his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

“Those questioning Anwar’s decision to stand in Port Dickson and not Wan Azizah’s seat in Pandan are not looking at Anwar’s political journey,” he said, hailing the former deputy prime minister’s impact on Malaysian politics.

He said it was too early to comment on the claim that Anwar would contribute to “family” politics as that was a small matter compared to his political journey.

This comes after activist Ambiga Sreenevasan warned Pakatan Harapan (PH) to guard against nepotism.

She said Anwar’s decision to contest in Port Dickson was “potentially nepotism” and that either Wan Azizah or Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, should have vacated their seat for him.

Nurul is the MP for Permatang Pauh.

Another activist, Siti Kasim, had also spoken against Anwar’s candidacy in Port Dickson, urging the people not to vote for him in order to teach his family and party PKR a lesson as this would be the third time a by-election was engineered for him.

However, Mujahid said Anwar’s decision to return to the political arena should be welcomed as he was needed to shape a new Malaysia.

He added that the PKR leader’s decision to contest in Port Dickson was supported by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Amanah also gives our full support and will provide assistance through our president Mohamad Sabu while DAP has vowed to ensure Anwar’s victory in the Port Dickson by-election.”