ANWAR Ibrahim has reminded that years ago, he stood up for army veterans in Port Dickson who were at risk of being placed at a disadvantage by former prime minister Najib Razak and wanted businessman Low Taek Jho.

Asked whether the military personnel based in the parliamentary constituency would be swayed by the PAS candidate, a 28-year air force veteran, the PKR president-elect said: “PAS has every right to field any candidate they feel is qualified to contest.

“But as far as defending army personnel, my record is there. It’s already in the Hansard,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

PAS last night announced that it is fielding 57-year-old Lt-Col (rtd) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar in the October 13 by-election. Nazari hails from Johor.

Anwar, who was Permatang Pauh MP until he was stripped of his seat in 2015 following his second sodomy conviction, said he had criticised a move by the Najib administration to relocate an army camp as part of a development plan to transfer land to 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

“Najib proposed that the Sg Besi camp be privatised to Jho Low and gang. I stood up in Parliament, defended veterans and insisted that their rights be protected, and it was very clear, amplified in the records.

“I believe voters have access to this. I will naturally go down to the ground and explain to them, meet them and offer my services.”

Low played an advisory role in the formation of 1MDB in 2009. The troubled state investor took ownership of the Sg Besi air force base from the federal government in 2011 to develop Bandar Malaysia via a joint venture with China-backed firms.

1MDB had agreed to relocate the camp, and upgrade six other air force bases and a police camp in exchange for the land.

The plan fell through last year after China Railway Engineering Corp and Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd failed to raise RM7.4 billion for a 60% stake in the development project via a share sales agreement.

Former Negri Sembilan MB Isa Samad, too, has thrown his hat in the ring for the Port Dickson polls, which may see some half-dozen hopefuls nominated tomorrow. – September 28, 2018.