THERE has been no discussion within Penang PKR on Anwar Ibrahim contesting in the state for his planned Dewan Rakyat comeback, said the state party chief.

“So far, Anwar himself has said nothing to me on the matter,” Penang PKR chairman Mansor Othman told The Malaysian Insight.

“I am also in the central political bureau. There has been no discussion by the party about this,” added the two-term Nibong Tebal MP.

This comes as calls were made earlier this week for the PKR president-elect to contest in a parliamentary seat in his home state of Penang.

PKR’s Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong had recently said that Anwar should contest in a Penang seat where all “his diehard supporters are”, rather than one in Kedah or other states.

Former Nibong Tebal DAP division chief Teoh Siang Hooi reportedly suggested Nibong Tebal, where he claimed a survey by his team had found the electorate there to be happy with Anwar.

When asked if he would give up his seat for Anwar, Mansor said that the people had elected him in the 14th general election and that he could not simply say he no longer wanted to serve.

PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin also confirmed that there had been no discussion on Anwar contesting in Penang, even though such calls were welcomed since the state was the iconic leader’s political base.

“I am not at liberty to discuss which seat Anwar will contest in.

“There has also been no such discussion (about Anwar contesting in Penang), to my knowledge,” he told reporters today at an agriculture event.

“Recently, Anwar told the PKR machinery in Permatang Pauh to get ready to help with the by-election campaign when the time comes. But that does not mean he is contesting in Penang.

“The seat he chooses may be outside the state,” the Penang PKR information chief said.

On Sunday, Anwar told the media that he had shortlisted “two or three” parliamentary seats for his Dewan Rakyat comeback, but could not reveal which seat he would be contesting.

He said most PKR MPs were willing to vacate their seats for him, should he ask them to, although many did not openly say so.

Apart from Nibong Tebal, PKR holds three other parliamentary seats in Penang - Permatang Pauh, Bayan Baru and Balik Pulau.

Permatang Pauh, Anwar’s traditional seat and stronghold, is now held by his daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar. Last month, she told the media that she was not vacating the seat for her father.

The other two seats are held by deputy ministers - Bayan Baru’s Sim Tze Tzin (Agriculture and Agro-based Industry) and Balik Pulau’s Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Tourism, Arts and Culture). – September 7, 2018.