I'm ready to contest in GE14, says Pandikar

GE14 | Former Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has indicated his readiness to return to active politics if fielded to contest in the upcoming 14th general election (GE14).

English daily New Straits Times quoted Pandikar as saying that he had intentions to make a comeback as a member of Parliament or state assemblyperson in Sabah since last year.

"If I am fielded in either a parliamentary or state seat in GE14, I will accept it because I am already physically and mentally prepared for it.

"I am not that old. I am only 63, compared to the current opposition leader, who is in his 90s," he was quoted as saying, in an unnamed reference to Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"However, I will leave it to the top leadership (to decide) including the area to be contested," he reportedly said after the launching of the Iranun Nusantara Gathering in Kota Kinabalu today.

Pandikar, who is also the patron of the Iranun Culture and Language Association, said he was ready to face challenges and to contest in any parliamentary or state constituency if given the opportunity.

However, the United Sabah Bumis Organisation (Usbo) president also added he was just expressing his intention to contest, and that there had been no indication from the top leaders for him to return to active politics.

"I haven’t become a candidate since the 12th general election in 2008…and that’s fine with me," he said as quoted by the NST.

Pandikar first made his entry into politics at the age of 27 in 1982. He was the president of Angkatan Keadilan Rakyat, a local party whose members all went on to join Umno upon its dissolution.

At the time, he was elected as Usukan state assemblyperson.

He was also a one-term Tempasuk assemblyperson from 1994 to 1999 and was subsequently appointed as a senator from 1999 to 2002.

In 2004, he recontested for the Tempasuk state seat for the 11th general election.

However, he was dropped from contesting in the subsequent general election, and was replaced by incumbent Tempasuk state-assemblyperson Musbah Jamli.

As Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Pandikar had often clashed with Harapan lawmakers who accused him of being biased towards BN. - Mkini