Don't ignore Streram for Rantau by-election, Anwar tells PKR

PKR AGM | With several names already listed as potential candidates for the Rantau by-election, newly minted PKR president Anwar Ibrahim Dr S Streram's claim to contest the seat cannot be ignored.

"There are already other names (being proposed), but I want to say that Streram's right (to contest) was denied, so he challenged it and won the case.

"Even though it is quite difficult for us to set aside the fact, because we said we should uplift more Malay leaders, I will surely listen.

"Rantau is the state seat with the highest proportion of Indian voters in the entire country. I hope this will be considered by the leaders in the Negeri Sembilan division and the political bureau," he said in his first speech as president at PKR's national congress in Shah Alam today.

On Friday, the Election Court in Seremban nullified the result of the Rantau state seat, and ordered fresh polls to be held. 

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan had retained the seat uncontested in the 14th general election after PKR candidate Streram was barred from filing his nomination papers.

Yesterday, Anwar confirmed that Rafizi Ramli was considered as a potential candidate for the state seat. 

Rafizi, however, said he would not contest in the by-election even if he was "paid RM50 million."

Mohamad, who has been standing in the seat since 2004, said that he would go all out to defend the seat, and that he was ready for a possible showdown with Rafizi. 

Streram has also since expressed his interest to contest in the seat.

At a press conference later, Anwar reiterated there were various considerations to be taken into account in picking a candidate for Rantau, and that no final decision has been made.

"If we wanted to cancel his (Streram's) nomination, maybe it would be ethically difficult," he added. - Mkini