NIK Omar Nik Abdul Aziz, the eldest son of the former Kelantan menteri besar and PAS icon Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, is among seven names unveiled by PKR as its candidates for the coming general election.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said Nik Omar will contest in Perak.

The other personalities announced by Anwar are former Public Service Department deputy director-general (operations) Zainal Azman Abu Seman, academician Hassan Basri Awang Mat Dahan, spina bifida patient rights advocate Dr Noraishah Mydin Abd Aziz, former Selangor Zakat Board chief executive officer Saipolyazan M. Yusop, Malaysian Youth Council president Jufitri Joha and PhD student Fathin Amelina Fazlie. 

“The names I announced today are from PKR’s quota,” Anwar said at a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya. 

When asked for clarification of Nik Omar’s Amanah membership status, Anwar claimed that the matter had been discussed with the component party.

“The matter has been extended to Amanah, but there shouldn’t be any issues as he is contesting for Pakatan Harapan” he said. 

Anwar said Zainal will contest for a seat in Perak, Hassan will stand in Pahang while Noraishah will run for a seat in Kuala Lumpur.

Saipolyazan will be fielded in Selangor, Jufitri will run in Negri Sembilan and Fathin will stand in Perlis.

On PKR naming new faces for the general election, Anwar said it has always been a people’s party and wants the public to participate.

“This party is not a normal political party. We have always said we are a people’s movement since reformasi,” he said. 

“The monopoly of party leaders is not in my mind. They should not determine entirely.

“You must allow space and vacuum for the rest to participate.”

During the question-and-answer session with the media, an unknown member of the public temporarily interrupted the session by claiming fielding relatively new and unknown individuals as candidates was a gamble and that it has failed previously.

“This has been experimented last time. All these government servants should go do research and not politics,” the individual was heard saying.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, however, said this is not the case. 

He said voters these days gave priority to individuals and not only parties. 

“Over the last two years, the biggest issue that will determine the outcome of an election is public cynicism towards politicians and parties,” Rafizi said. 

“More voters feel they no longer rely exclusively on political parties but also put more weightage on ability and freshness of candidates.

“If any parties choose to rely on party hierarchy exclusively or full-time politicians without much credibility to extra knowledge they bring to administration or parliament, I think we cannot combat the cynicism. 

“What PKR decided, whether we call it gamble or not, only time will tell. But it is to take the voters’ vision to see not just fresh faces but more professionals, fewer full-time politicians, taking an active role in politics.”

The individual was not seen later. 

Anwar also said the full candidates list for PKR will be unveiled on Friday night. – Bernama, October 26, 2022.