Amanah’s Saari Sungib confirms sitting out Selangor state polls

 

Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib said he has informed the Amanah leadership of his decision not to compete in the coming Selangor state election.

PETALING JAYA: Having served as the Hulu Kelang assemblyman for three consecutive terms, Saari Sungib will not seek re-election because of health issues.

Saari said he has conveyed his intention to sit out the Selangor state election to his party, Amanah, as well as to the leadership of Pakatan Harapan.

“I have informed the party that I will not be contesting this time. I have Parkinson’s disease, which is quite severe,” he told FMT.

Saari said his health condition may be related to the hardship he endured when he was detained under the now defunct Internal Security Act (ISA) 20 years ago.

He was first detained on Oct 12, 1998, for 15 days under the ISA, and again for two years between 2001 and 2003.

Yesterday, a party source had said Amanah may nominate its secretary-general, Hatta Ramli, to contest the Hulu Kelang seat in the upcoming state election.

Hatta is among the few candidates capable of retaining the seat for Amanah, the source told FMT.

Saari first won the seat in the 2008 general election when he was with PAS, and defended it in the 2013 general election.

He left PAS in 2015 along with several other leaders to form Amanah, and went on to retain the seat in the 2018 general election.

Saari declined to comment on Hatta’s possible candidacy but expressed his willingness to assist whichever candidate is chosen.

“My hope for the people of Hulu Kelang is that they continue to be served by reform-oriented elected representatives and (state) government,” he said.

Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will hold elections in July or August. - FMT