PKR set to field Zaid Ibrahim in Hulu Selangor
(Free Malaysia Today) – PKR is expected to field its supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim for the upcoming Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election.
According to party insiders, PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim has acknowledged that the former law minister is the best candidate to retain the seat.
“Zaid is a recognisable face. Everyone knows him and he is quite popular with the non-Malays as well. Anwar is aware of this.
“Furthermore, Zaid is seen as a principled politician, since he was willing to resign as minister. People respect him for this,” said the insider.
In 2008, Zaid had objected to the authorities’ decision to detain three individuals, an opposition leader, a popular blogger and a journalist, under the Internal Security Act.
When ordered to zip up and toe the line, the former Kota Baru MP tendered his resignation instead. The lawyer-turned-politician then quit Umno and joined PKR in the following year.
Meanwhile, the insider said Zaid’s win in the by-election would also propel him to play a bigger role in the party and Pakatan Rakyat.
“Anwar interviewed several candidates, but has his mind fixed on Zaid. The party leadership would make the announcement later this week,” he added.
PKR is confident that the former minister would be able to rope in the support of all three races in the Malay-majority seat.
The constituency also has a sizeable number of Chinese and Indian voters, and is regarded as a test case to gauge public sentiment in view of the next general election.
