Anwar pays tribute to Permatang Pauh voters for igniting his career

 

Anwar Ibrahim greeting Penangites today at a state open house for Chinese New Year. He later thanked hometown voters in Permatang Pauh. (Bernama pic)

PERMATANG PAUH: Anwar Ibrahim paid tribute to voters in Permatang Pauh for putting him on the path to the top as the country’s 10th prime minister.

In his first visit to the constituency since becoming prime minister, Anwar said that he owes his political career to the voters here despite having moved on to represent other constituencies.

“Who could imagine that after going through various hurdles and tests, I would finally be in a position to take care of this country,” he told a crowd at Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam.

“This is thanks to the Permatang Pauh voters, whom I have never forgotten. Even though I have represented Port Dickson (and now) Tambun, the basis of our strength was from Permatang Pauh.”

Anwar, a Bukit Mertajam native, represented Permatang Pauh for five full terms, first with Umno from 1982-1998, then as an independent until he was imprisoned in 1999. After his release from prison he represented the constituency under the PKR banner, the party he formed following his sacking from the government over corruption and sodomy allegations.

Anwar also won the seat for the seventh term in the 2013 general election. However, he only served for two years as he was imprisoned in 2015 for a second sodomy conviction.

The seat has been widely considered to be the Anwar family stronghold. His wife and daughter have both represented the constituency, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail from 1999-2008 and 2015-2018, and daughter Nurul Izzah from 2018-2022.

Nurul Izzah was defeated in the November 2022 general election by Fawwaz Jan (Perikatan Nasional-PAS).

Anwar also said that PKR will wrest back the seat from PN at the next election. “Although we have been tested again, Insyallah we will take back (Permatang Pauh).” - FMT