Selangor polls: Caretaker MB sees no threat from 'liability' Azmin

Caretaker Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari believes that his predecessor Azmin Ali contesting in the state election will not have a significant impact on the outcome.

On the contrary, he suggested that the Bersatu supreme council member is more of a bane than a boon for Perikatan Nasional.

Amirudin said this was evident in PN being unable to reach a consensus on who would be their menteri besar candidate in Selangor.

“The lack of clarity on this issue (MB candidate) shows that a significant number of PN leaders and members regard Azmin as a liability based on his performance as a minister in the PN government,” he told Malaysiakini.

In the last general election, the first since the infamous Sheraton Move, Amirudin defeated Azmin in the contest for the Gombak federal seat, which the latter had held for three terms.

In 2020, Azmin, who was the PKR number two then, defected together with several lawmakers aligned with him, which led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

Caretaker Selangor MB Amirudin Shari

Referring to his victory in Gombak, Amirudin said: “The people of Gombak have already considered him (Azmin) a liability and now, PN has a similar stand.”

The PKR leader also noted how Azmin had “caused confusion” during the movement control order during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among others, he cited how there were “altercations (gaduh)” with Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who was serving as the defence minister then.

In May, Azmin said he had no intentions of contesting in the state election, claiming that he wanted to step aside for younger leaders.

PN’s Azmin Ali

However, Azmin had a change of heart last month, saying due to the “current situation” there was a need to work as a team and that he would abide by the party’s directive.

For the coming polls, the former menteri besar has been named as PN’s candidate for the Hulu Kelang seat which he first won in 1999 at the height of the Reformasi movement instead of defending his Bukit Antarabangsa seat.

Hulu Kelang has been a traditional Amanah seat but will be contested by PKR Women deputy chief Juwairiya Zulkifli this time around.

PKR Women deputy chief Juwairiya Zulkifli

Yesterday, Azmin denied accusations he was “running away” from Bukit Antarabangsa, which he first won in the landmark 2008 general election that marked the fall of Selangor to Harapan.

“I would like to stress that Hulu Kelang has been my main seat since 1999 and while I was Gombak MP for three terms from 2008 (until 2022),” he said.

Azmi also said he had to change his mind about retiring because Bersatu wanted him to contest.

“The party gave its opinion that they wanted me to contest in this state poll, so I complied with my party’s president and leadership council to join this election,” he added. - Mkini