Wan Azizah for Kajang
PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim announces his wife as the new candidate to replace in the Kajang by election
K Pragalath, FMT
PKR today announced its party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as the new PKR candidate after its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was disqualified on Friday due to a conviction in court.
The announcement was made by Anwar himself at the party main election machinery office in Sungai Sekamat.
“The courts have blocked my candidacy. So we are announcing Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim as the new candidate,” he said.
When asked on why party secretary general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was not nominated, Anwar said: “I was keen on Saifuddin but he wanted to continue as secretary general.”
“Azizah is the most suitable candidate,” he added.
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who was also present, said that Azizah was the most suitable candidate and the DAP supports the candidacy.
Yesterday a party insider revealed to FMT that PKR is considering to field outgoing party president Wan Azizah.
This was despite Anwar’s announcement a day earlier that PKR had short listed 12 candidates to replace him.
On Friday, the Court of Appeal found the 67 year old Opposition Leader guilty of sodomy and sentenced him to serve five years in prison. He was however allowed to post RM10,000 bail.
The ruling derailed his plans to contest in the Kajang by-election.
The Kajang state seat fell vacant following the resignation of incumbent assemblymen Lee Chin Cheh of PKR on Jan 27. The Election Commission fixed March 23 as polling date and nomination day on March 11. Early polling would be held on March 19.
The state seat comprises 39,728 registered voters. At the last general election in May 2013, the seat saw a voter turnout of 87.9% with 541 spoilt votes.
MCA is pitting its vice president, Chew Mei Fun. Former Kita party founder Zaid Ibrahim and Herman Tino are also interested in contesting the by-election as independents.
Meanwhile Wan Azizah dismissed notions that her nominations would only serve as a seat warmer for Anwar.
“I thank the party for the trust that put on me. People can say anything they want but this struggle is Important. It is important to continue to fight the injustice.
“I represent the values of the ordinary people especially the women,” she said.
