Ambiga says it again: I won't contest in next GE

Responding to speculation that Pakatan Rakyat had identified her as a formidable candidate for the 13th general election, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan reiterated that she will not contest.

"My sole interest in the 13th general election is to ensure that it is clean and fair," she said when contacted today.

"I confirm I'm not running in the next general election."

The former Bar Council president is perplexed at how such speculaion could be raised, and repeatedly, because she was leading the electoral reform coalition.

Bersih gained momentum for organising the July 9 street rally to push for free and fair elections and since then, the mainstream media and ruling parties have been portraying Ambiga and Bersih with the opposition.

Yesterday, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief Fadillah Yusof urged Ambiga to clear the air on whether she intended to be a candidate in the next general election.

"The rakyat wants to know whether it is true that she has had negotiations with (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim.

"And if she had been offered a seat, then which constituency and under which party's banner would she contest?" New Straits Timesquoted Fadillah as saying.

Fadillah, who is also deputy science, technology and innovation minister, was responding to speculation that Ambiga was among several leaders Pakatan has identified as candidates in the coming election.

Ambiga stressed that the eight electoral reform demands proposed by Bersih should be the focus of discussion.

"It is imperative that, at the very least, the eight demands by Bersih must be implemented before the next general election," she added.