DR Streram Sinnasamy, who yesterday declared he was going to contest the Rantau seat, was unfazed when PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today announced that the candidate for the state seat had not been finalised.

The anaesthetist said he has spoken to Anwar but did not want to elaborate on the details.

“I have spoken to Anwar and the candidate will be revealed tomorrow, but I am confident. I cannot discuss what was spoken with him,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Earlier today at the 13th PKR Congress, Anwar was asked if Streram would be the party’s candidate for the coming Rantau by-election after the election court yesterday ordered that a by-election be held.

Anwar said the candidate for Rantau was not set in stone and that he would consider other candidates.

There were rumours that former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli was being considered for the post but the Invoke founder threw his weight behind Streram.

Former PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin floated the idea of fielding a female candidate for Rantau instead of Streram.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insight after court yesterday, Streram said he was confident that PKR would field him again as he was the Rantau assembly coordinator and enjoyed a good relationship with Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun.

During his speech today at the PKR Congress, Streram said that he would win Rantau to increase Pakatan Harapan’s dominance in the Negri Sembilan state assembly.

“When Rafizi Ramli initially suggested that I contest against Mohamad Hasan in the general election, I thought it was an uphill task.

“But after I was denied the chance, the votes came for Pakatan and we managed to win Negri Sembilan. So, if I’m picked again, I’m confident that we can add another seat,” said Steram in Shah Alam.

The Rantau state seat has more than 20,000 voters, made up of Malays (50%), Indians (27%), Chinese (19%) and others (1%).

The election court yesterday ordered a by-election for Rantau after invalidating Barisan Nasional’s unopposed win of the seat in the May general election.

Justice Azimah Omar held that Streram was unfairly denied the opportunity to file his nomination by returning officer Amino Agos, who had stopped him from entering the nomination centre on April 28.

As a result, the seat was won uncontested by incumbent Mohamad, who is the Umno deputy president.

Mohamad had held the seat since 2004 and was the Negri Sembilan MP for three terms.

Mohamad has been given 14 days to file an appeal, failing which the Election Commission will set a date for the by-election.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has announced that Mohamad will be contesting again in Rantau. – November 17, 2018.