KUANTAN – Voters in Indera Mahkota, Pahang have been urged to rid the federal constituency of its incumbent MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah as he turned his back on the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition after winning the seat under its ticket.
Calling it a “traitor’s seat”, PH president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the voters to keep in mind Saifuddin’s “betrayal” when casting their ballots as he had quit PH component PKR and is now a member of rival party Bersatu.
“Saifuddin won the seat based on his promise to look after the welfare of the people… but he was quick to betray (the people’s mandate) just to defend his position (as MP),” said Anwar during a campaign rally at Beserah here last night.
“He (Saifuddin) doesn’t deserve to be an MP. His reasons for trying to defend his seat have nothing to do with proper principles.”
He added that it is not part of the “local tradition” to overlook the indiscretions of figures who have wronged others, especially those who have garnered the trust of the people.
“Our culture is to not forgive greedy (politicians). We do not excuse betrayals, especially those against the people.
“Do not make a mistake in Indera Mahkota (by allowing Saifuddin to remain MP),” said Anwar, who is eyeing the Tambun federal seat in Perak, to rousing cheers from over 200 supporters gathered at the rally here.
Saifuddin had secured the seat as a PKR member during the previous general election in 2018 before defecting to Bersatu following the infamous Sheraton Move, which saw the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020 after just 22 months in power in Putrajaya.
He had served the first term of the last parliamentary term as the foreign affairs minister in the PH government.
Saifuddin continued serving as foreign minister in the subsequent government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the president of Bersatu, and later under Umno’s Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob before Parliament was dissolved on October 10.
The Indera Mahkota federal seat will see a four-cornered fight for GE15, with Saifuddin going against Barisan Nasional’s Quek Tai Seong, PH’s Zuraidi Ismail, and Pejuang’s Mohamad Nor Sundari.
Citizens will vote in a new government on November 19, with early voting set for November 15. – The Vibes, November 12, 2022
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