Anwar picks Port Dickson as comeback seat

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 7 years ago · Published on 12 Sep 2018 1:40PM · 14 Comments

ANWAR Ibrahim will run in the Port Dickson parliamentary seat in the PKR president-elect’s first step to become the prime minister, his party said today. 

The last time he was in a similar major contest was in 1993 when he challenged the late Ghafar Baba for the Umno deputy presidency to be within a heartbeat of the country’s top job. 

Party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today Anwar decided on Port Dickson after considering all the seats offered up by PKR lawmakers.

Anwar has also informed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad of the decision while Saifuddin did the same with other Pakatan Harapan leaders yesterday.

The Malaysian Insight reported yesterday that based on winnability and by eliminating other factors, the best seat for Anwar’s to return to Parliament is either Port Dickson or Selayang.

Saifuddin said Port Dickson was selected as it was seen to be a safe seat .

“Teluk Kemang, or Port Dickson, has been represented by PKR for the last three terms. As such, we consider it to be one of the safest seats,” he said. 

Port Dickson’s incumbent first-time MP First Admiral (rtd) Danyal Balagopal Abdullah will make now way for Anwar.

However, PKR must be mindful of warnings issued by National Patriots Association (Patriot) which said Danyal should be retained to articulate issues pertaining to the military and the often-overlooked welfare of veterans.

Patriot president Brig-Gen (rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji said veterans were buoyed by Danyal’s victory on a PKR ticket against Barisan Nasional and PAS in GE14.

Arshad said asking Danyal to give up the seat might cause a backlash among veterans and those still serving in the Port Dickson constituency.

Anwar must return to Parliament before he can succeed Dr Mahathir in two years.

Asked if Anwar’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Pandan MP) and his daughter Nurul Izzah (Permatang Pauh MP) should have given up their seats for Anwar instead, Saifuddin said the two were proven lawmakers. 

“Wan Azizah and Nurul Izzah have been tested. They were chosen via a process of democracy, it was not Anwar who chose them.” – September 12, 2018.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail yesterday informed the other Pakatan Harapan parties of Anwar Ibrahim's decision to contest the Port Dickson seat. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 12, 2018.

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Comments

  • Big mistake...

    Posted 7 years ago by Edi suleiman · Reply

  • Not PD lah. Please leave it for that navy veteran chap.

    Posted 7 years ago by Norani Ismail · Reply

  • For a better Harapan, and for a better Malaysia, the voters of PD should vote Anwar OUT.

    Posted 7 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Why PD???? ...PD is Bandar Tentera Darat not Bandar PKR n Family

    Posted 7 years ago by Zainal Mahfodz · Reply

  • Sound advice by the Brigadier has been ignored. A loss will be a well deserved wake-up call to PKR's overweening arrogance.

    Posted 7 years ago by Azlan Romly · Reply

  • Bye bye Anwar........you think you are inadmissable?

    Posted 7 years ago by Azis Yusoff · Reply

  • Dont abuse rakyat mandate. It is not a gift that you can presented to your boss to increase your chance to win party election.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Yih Ven · Reply

  • It is a 50/50 chance for anwar to win. His adviser are actually planning to have the Chinese and Indians to support him leaving some remnants of the Malay throwing in some kind of a support. They are also looking at the previous support to the army guy from PKR but things could have changed. After Patriots vocal disagreement and also many negative happenings in Anwar attitude after his release it sure looks like a very risky move. Not all Chinese and Indians are swayed by Anwar same old same old BS. There could be a protest voting block or a purpose low turn out to support him. Yea maybe a very low margin of winning or a shocking defeat. Anwar should have asked his daughter or wife to sacrifice their seat instead of others. The rakyat do not take it kindly as it is a picture of nepotism in the making after the heart wrenching anger to the kleptocrat. Anwar advisors are planning for him to loose. Strang in all his long fought year of experience and educated by the long incarceration, should have strengthen his reslove in determining a fail proof success in his return to public space as a 'hard core slammers educated' come back maverick. Again it is just the law of nature in asserting the virtues of "In all one's cleverness, a thinge of stupidity would surface to ensure the sanity of cognisance in humility".

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • The common word heard now is that PKR is now renamed PAB (Parti Anak Beranak).
    As an ordinary rakyat, we are not privy to the background info. I believe DSAI could have managed the perception in a better manner. RR, JA and the others made it worse being very public and dragged party comrades through mud. DSAI's return via PD was handled badly which ultimately gives DSAI a really image.
    Wrong or right, we the rakyat's only recourse is at the next GE15.
    Hopefully by then, PKR is still not viewed as PAB for then many including me will definitely have second thoughts of returning PH as the Govt of the Day.

    Posted 7 years ago by Hisham Abdullah · Reply

  • And it is crystal clear from today's PC that DSAI does not trust his MT, AA, TC ZK or at least that's the perception. PKR is now DSAI, WA & NI and DSAI, WA & NI is PKR, i don't see it as a party for everyone, especially when those who fought for the party are now sidelined.
    The new general is RR. AA and the rest who have been sidelined best join a party that will appreciate them. Any party that does not appreciate its members are bound to repeat what the previous ruling party received.
    I may be completely wrong but this is the perception now.

    Posted 7 years ago by Hisham Abdullah · Reply

  • Vote Anwarrrrrrrrrrrrr outtttttt

    Posted 7 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply

  • Don't be so cock sure he will win. PD may be his waterloo and end his political career!

    Posted 7 years ago by Teh Ewe Leng · Reply

  • Heed Arshad's advice please!

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • PD for parti dayus?

    Posted 7 years ago by Ju Laza · Reply