KUALA LUMPUR – Carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan will not be running for Johor’s Pulai federal seat under the Perikatan Nasional banner.
However, he said he will still contest the seat, short of confirming if it is with another party or as an independent.
“I have opted out as Gerakan’s candidate for Pulai as I have realised that my courageous and no-holds-barred attacks against the corrupt kleptocrats and their sympathisers are more appreciated by true champions of democracy,” he said in a statement as reported by Free Malaysia Today
Just last night, Johor PN election director Rasman Ithnain rubbished talk that the coalition will field another candidate in Pulai.
“PN has so far not heard of any exchange of seats. No discussions were held. What we’ve just heard are only rumours, (I believe), and provocations (by other parties).
“And as of now, the name already in my hand is Deepak’s.”
Rasman was asked to comment on a news report on Tuesday that quoted Johor Gerakan chairman Datuk Teo Kok Chee as saying that party president Datuk Dominic Lau had nominated another candidate to stand in Pulai on the party’s ticket.
According to Teo, the decision to replace the candidate was made by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin two days ago.
Perlis PN confirmed that it had given way to incumbent Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim to contest the Arau parliamentary seat in GE15. – The Vibes, November 4, 2022