Unisel professor is PKR’s ‘top choice’ for Sungai Besar polls

(The Star) – Political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin has been named as “a top choice” by PKR to contest in the Sungai Besar by-election.

A PKR source said the leadership has decided that Tanjong Karang-born Universiti Selangor (Unisel) professor is the best candidate to challenge Barisan Nasional for the parliamentary seat.

Talks are now underway between Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who is PKR deputy president, and state PAS leaders for the Islamist party to make way for PKR.

“So far everything seems to be coming along well and we are confident that it will be PKR and not PAS or Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) that will be contesting in Sungai Besar,” said the source.

Dr Shaharuddin is also the only PKR vice-president who is not an elected representative.

The other party vice-presidents are Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Batu MP Tian Chua, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, Bukit Katil MP Shamsul Iskandar Md. Akin, Penampang MP Darell Leiking and Sri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

The source said Azmin had no other choice but initiate plans to pit a PKR candidate to ensure Pakatan Harapan stood a strong chance of winning the seat.

Both PAS and Amanah had been fighting for the seat but Amanah, a splinter group of PAS, is willing to make way for a PKR candidate, said the source.

“If PAS were to contest, the DAP would not campaign in the by-election and this could be a big loss for Pakatan as DAP’s Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim carries a lot of weight in the area,’’ said the source.

The Sungai Besar parliamentary seat has the Sungai Panjang and Sekinchan state assembly seats under it.

Nomination is on June 5 and polling on June 18.