Pakatan to field Streram in Rantau by-election

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 5 years ago · Published on 11 Mar 2019 5:41PM · 4 Comments

PAKATAN Harapan is fielding Dr S. Streram in the Rantau by-election, said PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the decision was made after a consultation between the PH leadership, and PKR’s Negri Sembilan and Rembau leaders.

“The decision was reached after taking into consideration Dr Streram’s academic qualifications, work record in the party and the fact that he was denied the chance to contest in the 14th general election,” he said at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

He said the decision followed a PKR political bureau meeting on March 6 and PH presidential council meeting on March 9.

Dr Streram, who is an anaesthetist, is Rembau PKR deputy chief and coordinator for the state constituency.

Anwar, who is also PH adviser, said there were suggestions that the pact field a Malay candidate, following pressure due to the Umno-PAS cooperation.

He said PKR and PH do not feel the need to react to the provocation by Umno and PAS.

“But we want to stress that we will not forsake Malays, and our candidate has to take care of everyone’s interests.

“Another issue for Rantau is related to the last elections, where we moved the Jeram Padang candidate to Rantau because the seat has 27% Indian voters.”

He said other seats in Negri Sembilan have been contested by Malays, including Port Dickson, which used to be an Indian seat.

“As such, we want to maintain our principle of looking out for all races, and we decided to maintain an Indian candidate for Rantau.”

Anwar added that the Rantau by-election is not a referendum on the 10-month PH government.

“This is the former Barisan Nasional menteri besar’s seat, and it is unfair to say that. Particularly when we won in Sg Kandis, Seri Setia, Balakong and Port Dickson.

“We only lost in Cameron Highlands and Semenyih.”

The Rantau polls were called after the election court last November nullified the GE14 win of BN’s Mohamad Hasan and ordered for a by-election to be held.

On February 18, the Federal Court upheld the ruling, quashing Mohamad’s appeal to set aside the election court decision.

The Election Commission has set March 30 for nomination and April 13 for polling. It will be the seventh by-election since GE14 last May.

Rantau has 20,926 voters, comprising 54% Malays, Chinese (19%) and Indians (27%). – March 11, 2019.

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Comments

  • Best decision made by DSAI. Race and religion should nt be a criteria. Despite the prevailing sentiments, DSAI made a bold decision.

    Posted 5 years ago by Aplanaidu Pathanaidu · Reply

  • Fair enough to give him a chance. Win or lose at least he got a chance to contest the seat he fought so hard for in court.

    Posted 5 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Bravo. Even if Streram lose, PKR have won a moral victory.
    We should not allow race dictate the New Malaysia agenda

    Posted 5 years ago by Philip Ting · Reply

  • In the first place there should not be any hesitation to nominate Dr. Streram immediately as the candidate. No need the act of bureaucratic processes. Or is it already known who will be winning the Rantau elections and the top gun are told to lie low..

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply