PERMATANG PAUH – PKR remains steadfast in its stand to nominate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as its prime ministerial candidate in the next general election, said party central leadership council member Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid.
The Kapar MP said it is not fair to place all the blame for Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) defeat in the recent Melaka election on Anwar’s shoulders alone because there were many contributing factors that led to the loss.
“For me, those who talk about PKR’s defeat do not know the data. Many give their views at the national level, but they do not do research at all.
“If you don’t know the data, then shut up,” he said.
In the election on November 20, Barisan Nasional won 21 of the 28 assembly seats, Perikatan Nasional won two and PH won five. Four of PH’s victories were enabled by DAP candidates while the fifth was secured by an Amanah candidate.
DAP also lost four seats that it had held.
“On November 20, many (voters) had not received their salary yet and could not go back home to vote. There are many other factors as well,” Abdullah said when met after the Jom Kerja Penanti 2021 Carnival here today.
He was commenting on a statement by DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke, who for the first time openly stated that PH must stop insisting that Anwar be its sole candidate for the post of prime minister after the losses suffered in Melaka.
Loke, who is DAP’s national organising secretary, was reported by The Malaysian Insight as saying that the coalition should instead talk more about the reform agenda and not just that Anwar should be prime minister.
Abdullah Sani slammed Loke, asking if he had any other prime ministerial candidate in mind from DAP or Amanah.
For me, it’s just Anwar. I don’t know if Lim Guan Eng or Mohamad Sabu want to be the prime minister, it’s up to them.
“Or do you want to appoint Tun Mahathir again?” he said, referring to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was PH’s prime ministerial choice after its May 2018 general election victory. However, he resigned as premier in February 2020, leading to the PH cabinet’s resignation and the government’s collapse.
Abdullah Sani added that, at this time, the focus should be fully on people who are facing rising prices for essential goods.
“Move on, work together. We focus on people’s issues. What is our role? Right now, the people want to eat, but we are busy with the prime minister post. Use your brain!” he said.
Meanwhile, Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who was present at the programme, said this issue needs to be discussed together internally within the PH leadership.
“I was asked in my capacity as his (Anwar’s) daughter. I hope to also fulfil my role as a leader who wants to help the people deal with the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said briefly. – The Vibes, November 27, 2021
