PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said today the decision to contest a different seat in elections is made only after ensuring that the winning momentum remains strong in his previous seats.

The former Permatang Pauh MP and incumbent Port Dickson MP said the move to Tambun parliamentary seat in the November 19 general election was decided only after a thorough study of the constituency was done. 

“I left seats that are already strong. Permatang Pauh, to me, is already strong while Port Dickson in the last few years I have given lots of attention,” he said in an audio recording shared with a media WhatsApp group today. 

“And so I must strengthen and win a new seat towards (Pakatan Harapan) winning GE15.”

During an event to announce PKR’s peninsular candidates for the polls last night, Anwar was confirmed as the candidate for Tambun, setting the stage for a possible battle with its incumbent and Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

Seventy-two parliamentary seat candidates were announced. 

At the same event, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli claimed that based on a party assessment, Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) prime minister candidate, is currently leading in terms of support in Tambun. 

On former vice-president Tian Chua’s warning that PKR’s move to drop several incumbent MPs could prove detrimental to the party, Anwar, who is PH chairman, stressed not all party leaders needed to be fielded as candidates. 

He said the new faces, including those from the younger generation, should be given an opportunity to contest as well.  

“I would like to emphasise (to) Tian Chua, not all struggles need to be through elections. We (also) need the support of the senior party figures to guide the younger ones,” he said. 

Tian Chia reportedly said there were many party members who were disappointed with the candidates’ list this time around. 

Among the incumbent MPs dropped include Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya), R. Sivarasa (Sungai Buloh), Tan Yee Kew (Wangsa Maju), June Leow (Hulu Selangor), Johari Abdul (Sungai Petani) and Chan Ming Kai (Alor Setar). – Bernama, October 29, 2022.