THE decision to vacate the Port Dickson seat to allow Anwar Ibrahim to contest was not discussed or officially announced at a PKR meeting.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said normally, important plans, including those concerning a by-election, would be discussed at party political bureau meetings, as major strategies were involved.

“I was not around as I was working in Lumut, Perak, when the previous political bureau meeting was held, so I do not know what happened during the meeting.

“But, if you ask me, no official meeting was held regarding the decision on Anwar contesting any by-election, or anyone vacating a seat,” he told reporters after launching the 22nd Inpens International College Convocation Ceremony at the Perak Jubilee Hall in Shah Alam today.

He was asked to comment on outgoing Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin‘s statement yesterday, in which she criticised the Port Dickson move.

Yesterday, Danyal Balagopal Abdullah announced that he was quitting as Port Dickson MP with immediate effect, paving the way for PKR president-elect Anwar to contest the seat in a by-election.

Amirudin said given that the decision had been made, he would continue helping the party in its efforts to win the seat.

Asked if he thought the people would not vote in the by-election as a sign of protest, he said: “That’s why this strategy has to be discussed seriously in a meeting. However, some decisions have been made at the discretion of the president (Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) and the leadership… regardless, our responsibility is to ensure the party wins.” – Bernama, September 13, 2018.