Up to PN leadership to decide, says Afif on standing in Selangor

 

Dr Afif Bahardin said Selangor has been his base since he was appointed as the state PN liaison secretary.

PETALING JAYA: Former Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin says it is up to the Perikatan Nasional top leadership to decide if he should be fielded as a candidate in the Selangor state election.

Afif said following his appointment as the Selangor PN liaison secretary, the state has become his operational base and he is focusing on the coalition’s operations here.

“Whether or not I will be fielded as a candidate is not for me to decide because it is up to the (PN) leadership,” he told FMT. “It is also up to the leadership to secure the best candidates for the coming state elections.

“My focus now is to do whatever I can to support PN in Selangor in our attempt to wrest power from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan and form the new state government.”

Afif was commenting on a news report which speculated that he is expected to be fielded as a candidate in Selangor instead of Penang.

Citing sources, The Star reported that his position as Selangor PN liaison secretary means he is already doing work in the state, adding to his potential as a prospective candidate.

Afif served as the Seberang Jaya assemblyman under PKR for two terms from May 2013, and was the executive councillor for healthcare, agriculture and rural development under the Pakatan Harapan-led state government.

He joined Bersatu in June 2020 following his sacking from PKR and was expelled from the Penang assembly in March this year together with his three Bersatu colleagues – Khaliq Mehtab Ishaq (Bertam), Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Acheh) and Zolkifly Lazim (Teluk Bahang) – under the state’s anti-hopping law.

He contested for the Shah Alam parliamentary seat in the recent 15th general election but was defeated in a four-cornered fight against PH’s Azli Yusof (the eventual winner), Barisan Nasional’s Isham Jalil and Pejuang’s Rafique Rashid Ali.

Asked whether his political career in Penang has ended, Afif said he has done his best to serve the state.

He also said his team is still based in Penang and is continuing his work in Seberang Jaya and Permatang Pauh.

“It is probably also about time for me to make way for new faces in Penang,” he said.

Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will hold elections on Aug 12. - FMT