Johor Baru MP Shahrir hints he will run in GE14
JOHOR BARU: Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad has indicated that he may yet contest in the next general election (GE14).
Shahrir, who is Johor Baru member of parliament, had previously said that the 2013 election would be his last, and that he would not contest in GE14.
However, speaking to the media after the “Perjuangan For All” dialogue session here on Sunday, Shahrir said Pakatan Harapan’s move to make Johor its frontline state had spurred him to face the opposition coalition in an effort to help defend the state.
“Initially, I felt that the next election would be an easy one. However, with talk that a lot of opposition leaders are contesting in Johor, including Khalid Samad, how could I just step aside and not do all that I can to help, in whatever capacity?”
He said Pakatan Harapan’s confidence in wresting Johor stemmed from the fact that it had leaders like Tun Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in its ranks.
“With both of them on their side, combined with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang, it feels that it can break through in Johor.” Present at the dialogue were Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa and MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Annuar said he was glad that Pakatan Harapan considered Johor its frontline state, because this meant that it was not concentrating on other states.
“For us, every state is a frontline state, because our focus is the whole country.
“Moreover, they (the opposition) are only interested in playing politics and ensuring they can win, and not to serve the people who voted for them,” said Annuar.