'He taught me, he inspired me' - Saiful on Anwar

PD POLLS | The Oct 13 Port Dickson by-election is to serve as a platform for Anwar Ibrahim to return to Parliament and mark his first step towards becoming the next prime minister.

However, there are six candidates who stand in his way, among them his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 33.

In an interview with Malaysiakini today, Saiful said Anwar should be proud that his former student is now challenging him.

“I cannot deny that my political education came from him. He should be proud because his student is now challenging the master.

"My (political) knowledge came from him. He taught me. He inspired me."

In 2008, Saiful filed a police report accusing Anwar of sodomising him, which culminated in the latter's conviction and prison sentence.

On May 16 this year, Anwar, who has always maintained that the allegation was fabricated by his political rivals, was accorded a full royal pardon.

'Unnecessary by-election'

Saiful said he decided to challenge Anwar because his mission is to send a message that the by-election was unnecessary.

"I cannot accept that this by-election is held without good reason. It was not caused by the death (of the incumbent).

"It has just been five months since the general election, and now we are having a by-election just because of a personal agenda.

"I am angry and disappointed because Anwar is using RM3.6 million (in public funds) for this by-election. What happened to the morals and pride that was the basis of PKR?" he asked.

Saiful said Anwar was responsible for the Permatang Pauh by-election in 2008 and the Kajang by-election in 2014 as well.

However, the father of two said if Anwar had chosen to trigger a by-election in either Permatang Pauh or Pandan, where his wife and daughter are the respective MPs, he would not have joined the polls.

"People in those places can accept him. But in Port Dickson it is different. What does (Port Dickson) have to do with Anwar?" he asked.

The Port Dickson by-election was called after the incumbent from PKR, Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, vacated the seat to allow Anwar to contest.

No mudslinging

Saiful, whose campaign slogan is "Kearah Kestabilan" (towards stability), said he respected Pakatan Harapan's mandate to govern the nation, but believed there was no reason to usher in a new prime minister now because it would lead to instability.

"My motto is 'towards stability' because come Oct 14, I want the government to continue (as it were). If I win (the by-election), (Harapan still has to) administer the country and fulfil their pledges.

"(Anwar treats this) by-election as his ticket to becoming prime minister, and is not (working for) the people of Port Dickson. Why not Permatang Pauh or Pandan? Why is Port Dickson the victim?

"He could have waited for two years for a by-election from natural causes," he added.

On why did he not back former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohd Isa Abdul Samad – the only veteran politician among the five independent candidates – and avoid splitting the opposition vote, Saiful said he and his team had committed to the by-election much earlier.

"I am in the running as a symbol of protest. I don't represent any party. I am the symbol for those who are tired of political games. There is a trust deficit among both (Harapan) and the opposition," he added.

Saiful also pledged not to indulge in mudslinging or dredging up the past with regard to the sodomy allegation.

"I want people to know the 'new me'. I don't want people to equate me to things that happened in the past.

"I'm serious about this by-election." -Mkini