Nik Aziz: Field another candidate
(The Star) KOTA BARU: PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat disagrees with the DAP that former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin be fielded in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election.
As long as Pakatan regarded Mohammad Nizar as the Mentri Besar, he should not be contesting in the by-election, Nik Aziz said.
“If you ask me, I cannot accept a mentri besar contesting in a by-election. To me, it is not right for the Perak MB to contest as he is already an elected representative,” he told reporters yesterday.
Nik Aziz commended former Kedah executive council member V. Arumugam for vacating the Bukit Selambau parliamentary seat, saying that the former PKR assemblyman was a man with principle.
He agreed that the Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-elections should be held simultaneously.
“Elections are the hallmark of a democratic system; I don’t have any objection if both by-elections are held simultaneously. I will be campaigning … if health permits,” he said.
In Ipoh, Nizar said it was too early to say if his party would field him in Bukit Gantang.
“There are many potential candidates. Furthermore, I am not from that area,” he told reporters at the Mentri Besar’s official residence.
On Monday, Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said Nizar was the best candidate for the seat.
Nizar said he was confident of a Pakatan victory regardless of who was chosen.
State Umno secretary Datuk Ramly Zahari said Barisan was confident of wresting the seat.
“We will not be overconfident. We will be more careful about selecting the right candidate,” he said, adding that a local candidate would be recommended to the party leadership.
