IPOH – In its dogged effort to help recapture Perak for Pakatan Harapan (PH), PKR has unveiled 17 fresh faces to run for the state assembly, out of the total 21 seats that the party is contesting here for the coming general election (GE15).
Perak PKR chief Chang Lih Kang said the strategy of fielding new candidates, as well as the presence of party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the state, will increase PH’s chances of retaking the state.
“Perak has become the frontline state where victory can propel PH towards retaking the federal government,” he said during a press conference after unveiling the candidates at the Travelodge Hotel here today.
PH will contest all 59 state seats, with DAP and Amanah allocated 19 seats each.
Only four PKR incumbents will be defending their seats, while 11 candidates are aged 40 and below, with the youngest being 28.
Perak has become a main focus for PH, as Anwar will contest the Tambun parliamentary seat against Bersatu’s deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
Another notable contender is Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is defending the Bagan Datuk federal seat.
With the political bigwigs converging in Perak, questions abound over the state’s potential menteri besar candidate.
Earlier today, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said that the party’s candidate for the Kuala Sepetang state seat, Datuk Zainal Azman Abu Seman, is likely to be PH’s choice to lead the state.
Zainal is a former Public Service Department deputy director-general and was touted by Rafizi as the most qualified for the position.
Asked about the candidacy, Chang explained that it was a subject of talk within the opposition coalition but stressed the need for PH to win the polls before such matters can be confirmed.
“It has been discussed. The coalition has many qualified candidates but we must win first,” he said.
Previously, PH had taken over Perak in 2018, with Faizal being installed as the menteri besar while Bersatu was part of the coalition.
Following the infamous Sheraton Move, Faizal managed to retain the post with support from Perikatan National allies for some time before losing a vote of confidence in the state assembly in December 2020.
He was then replaced by Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad of Barisan Nasional (BN).
In 2009, a constitutional crisis was triggered in the state after three representatives from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) bloc defected to BN.
PR’s menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who is now with Amanah, was replaced by BN’s Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
Meanwhile, Chang said that all party candidates have also signed an agreement that will result in heavy punishment for those who leave the party after winning their seats.
While the anti-hopping law has been passed at the national level, Perak has yet to approve its own bill on the matter.
“We have yet to pass this bill at the state level but it will be our top agenda post-election,” he said.
The Election Commission has set November 5 as nomination day for the general election, with early polling scheduled on November 15.
Malaysia’s polling date is set for November 19. – The Vibes, November 3, 2022
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