The resignation will force a by-election which her husband and de facto party leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can contest.After months of speculation on his widely anticipated return to Parliament, Anwar appears to have settled for the safest bet -- a seat won by the PKR in the last elections with the biggest majority.
On March 8, Dr Wan Azizah was returned by a 13,388 majority. She polled 30,338 votes to Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Pirdaus Ismail's 16,950 votes.
At a press conference yesterday, he denied that the hurried move had been due to rumours that he would be arrested soon on sodomy charges.
"Even if they arrest me, what could they charge me with? They have been on a month-long fishing expedition. And not caught any fish."
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said yesterday that investigations into the sodomy allegations had been completed.
Dr Wan Azizah told the packed press conference of about 50 reporters at the party's headquarters here that she sent her resignation letter to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia on Wednesday but had not received an acknowledgement.
She had been informed that he would respond on his return from Sabah on Monday.
According to the Elections Act, a by-election would have to be called within 60 days of a seat being vacated. The speaker would have to inform the Election Commission before it can announce that the seat is vacant.
Anwar had on many occasions hinted at a number of constituencies that he choose to contest, including Kuala Kangsar, Bandar Tun Razak and, most recently, Kulim-Bandar Baharu.
The result in Kulim-Bandar Baharu, won by the PKR's Zulkifli Nordin, is being contested in an election petition.
"I don't expect this case to be solved any time soon.
"With full support from Azizah, as well as the Pas and DAP leadership and our friends in Permatang Pauh, I am offering myself as an MP for the constituency."
Anwar also claimed that the coalition was still on track for a Sept 16 deadline for the three-party Pakatan Rakyat pact to form the federal government.
Permatang Pauh is an Anwar stronghold. He represented the Malay-majority seat for four terms before his 1998 arrest and subsequent imprisonment. Since then, Dr Wan Azizah has been the MP for the constituency.
Asked if he chose Permatang Pauh because it was "safe", Anwar said: "Actually, (Selangor Menteri Besar) Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had offered Bandar Tun Razak, so did Azmin Ali with his Gombak seat. They are all safe seats, including the one in Kulim.
"If it looks very safe, please convey that to Umno," he said.
Dr Wan Azizah, who at times stuttered when announcing her resignation, said she would remain as party president.
PKR vice-president R. Siva-rasa, who was also at the press conference, said the sodomy allegations and police investigations would not get in the way of the by-election pro-cess.
"As long as the candidate has not been convicted before nomination day, he is eligible to contest."
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