Anwar still undecided if he will contest Tambun

 

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has yet to make a decision if he will leave his current Port Dickson parliamentary seat in Negeri Sembilan for Tambun in Perak.

When met at the sidelines while attending an event at Parliament today, he said there were suggestions for him to contest in Tambun and a few other parliamentary seats.

“I am currently looking at it. My friends in Port Dickson asked me to remain there while Tambun (PKR) said they are ready (for me to contest there), and a few other constituencies too,” he said. 

He said he will make an announcement once the matter is decided.

“But this depends on when is the next general election,” Anwar said, adding that PKR and Pakatan Harapan are prepared to face the upcoming polls speculated to be held in November.

It was previously reported that Tambun PKR branch chief Muhamad Arafat Varisai Mahamad wanted to make way for Anwar to contest the parliamentary seat and this was agreed upon at the branch’s annual general meeting.

Last month, Anwar said he would consider the suggestion but said the matter had not been finalised.

The opposition leader made a political comeback by being elected Port Dickson MP in 2018.

The by-election in October that year was five months after he secured a royal pardon and was released from jail over a sodomy conviction.

He held the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat between 1982 and 1999.

The Tambun seat is currently held by Youth and Sports Minister as well as Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

The kingmaker threat

In another development, Anwar said PAS’ intention to play the role of kingmaker in the upcoming general election is a dangerous practice. 

This is because, he said, the stance taken by the Islamic party is a form of intimidation to the political parties potentially forming the new government after the next election.

“This is a dangerous approach as it is making a threat. A kingmaker means it will demand for minister posts and positions, this is what is happening now,” he said. 

Anwar pointed out that the gambling activities under the current administration, in which PAS is a part of, are worse than before. 

“What we want is a party with a clear policy. Corruption has become a cancer in this country, and the same goes for abuse of power. The country’s economy is not being planned in a satisfactory manner. This is more important to me,” he said.

Yesterday, PAS election director and Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said PAS was confident of winning 40 of the 80 seats it will contest in the next general election. 

He said PAS can be a kingmaker if it achieves this target.

In the 2018 general election, PAS only won 18 out of 160 parliamentary seats it contested. - Mkini