PETALING JAYA – Perak Pakatan Harapan (PH) has named former senior civil servant Datuk Zainal Azman Abu Seman as its candidate for the state’s menteri besar.
The candidacy was confirmed today by PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who heralded Zainal as being “the most qualified candidate” for the position.
“It is a big gamble for PH (to name Zainal as its menteri besar candidate)... but we believe it is a right decision,” he told reporters during a press conference at the PKR headquarters here.
Previously, Zainal had served as deputy director-general at the Public Service Department, Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry secretary-general, and Perak state secretary, among others.
It was reported earlier today that Zainal is expected to run for the Kuala Sepetang state seat.
The seat was won by Barisan Nasional’s Kamaruddin Abu Bakar with a slim 329-vote majority over PKR’s Chua Yee Ling during the 2018 polls, breaking PKR’s two-term hold over the constituency.
In explaining the decision to field Zainal as the Perak menteri besar candidate, Rafizi said that the 60-year-old will be able to increase support for the coalition and its component parties while fairly governing the state.
“There has been a lack of Malay leaders in Perak who can balance elevating Malay support for PH and PKR while managing the state with a steady hand,” he said.
Perak is set to be PH’s battleground in its attempt to reclaim Putrajaya, with coalition president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim vying for the Tambun parliamentary seat. – The Vibes, November 3, 2022
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