Sivarasa dropped as candidate due to health issues, says Anwar

 

Anwar Ibrahim was concerned that former Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa’s health issues would have an impact on Pakatan Harapan’s chances.

PETALING JAYA: Former Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa’s “health issues” had led to Anwar Ibrahim dropping him as a candidate in the coming polls.

Utusan Malaysia reported the opposition leader as saying that if the three-term MP campaigned while looking sickly, it could have an impact on Pakatan Harapan’s chances.

“And that was a factor I considered. Plus it also allows us to introduce a candidate who could beat (Barisan Nasional’s) Khairy Jamaluddin,” he was quoted as saying, referring to R Ramanan.

Earlier today, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said he had recommended that the party retain Sivarasa as its candidate for the parliamentary seat due to the latter’s track record.

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Anwar, who had the final say, however, had a different view on the matter.

Sivarasa won the Sungai Buloh seat in the last general election in 2018 with a 26,634 vote majority against PAS’ Nuridah Salleh.- FMT