Malaysia

GE15: I’ll defend Gombak seat, Azmin confirms

Caretaker international trade minister says ready to serve constituents for another term

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 25 Oct 2022 11:27PM

GE15: I’ll defend Gombak seat, Azmin confirms — Asked about potential contenders, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali sarcastically says he had previously heard rumours about individuals stating their intent to run for the seat, but who later announced they would be contesting elsewhere. – Bernama pic, October 25, 2022

by Fitri Nizam

KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has confirmed that he will defend the parliamentary seat in Gombak in the upcoming general elections (GE15).

According to The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister publication Getaran, the caretaker international trade and industry minister said he was ready to continue serving and making contributions to the people in the constituency for the next term.

“Gombak is open to anyone who wants to offer their service and I leave it to the people of Gombak to make the right and responsible decision (in GE15).”

“...Having lived in Gombak for a long time, they (voters) recognise me, and know about my service and contributions.

“(Therefore) I am ready to continue this for the people of Gombak,” he said in Astro Awani’s special interview titled Apa Khabar Azmin (How are you, Azmin?) this evening.

Azmin had held the Gombak seat in 2008, winning in the constituency under the PKR ticket.

However, following a fallout with the reformist party during the infamous Sheraton Move in early 2020, Azmin will contest under the Perikatan Nasional banner in GE15.

Asked about potential contenders, Azmin sarcastically said he had previously heard rumours about individuals stating their intent to run for the seat, but who later announced they would be contesting elsewhere.

“I previously heard that many individuals wanted to run in Gombak, and I have said that this is a democratic process. I welcome any individual who wants to run in Gombak.

“But I heard that they had shifted to other places,” he said.

Previously, Azmin’s former ally and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was speculated to run in Gombak as the latter had stated he wanted to contest in a seat held by a Sheraton Move “traitor”.

However, last Thursday, the PKR president confirmed that he would run for the Tambun seat in Perak.

The announcement will likely see Anwar lock horns with Bersatu deputy president Datuk Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who is tipped to be defending the seat. – The Vibes, October 25, 2022