Anwar says to focus on campaign, not bothered by Saiful

PORT DICKSON: Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Port Dickson by election, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he would not be bothered by the action of his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who would also be contesting for the parliamentary seat.

The PKR president-elect said he would focus on his campaign, and together with the PH election machinery, to secure the votes of the people in the constituency and win the by-election.

“We are the PH government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,. We want to help him (Dr Mahathir) in Parliament,” he said.

Anwar said this when asked whether Mohd Saiful Bukhari’s presence as one of the seven candidates in the by-election would bring back all memories between them.

Mohd Saiful Bukhari, 33, was the main individual in the sodomy case which caused Anwar to be imprisoned.

On the action by his supporters who teased Mohd Saiful Bukhari during the announcement on the candidates for the by-election, Anwar said he would advised them not to do it again.

“It’s easier for me to say to forgive and move on, but you also have to appreciate the concern of many who are deeply hurt and suffered in the process,” he added. The Port Dickson by-election is seeing a seven-cornered fight.

Besides Mohd Saiful Bukhari, former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abd Samad is also among Anwar’s challengers.

The others are PAS candidate Lt Col (Rtd) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar and three other independent candidates, namely Lau Seck Yan, social media personality Stevie Chan Kee Leong and Kan Chee Yen.

Asked whether the six candidates would be a stiff challenge for him, Anwar said he would not regard the by-election an easy path for him, despite main opposition UMNO not fielding its candidate.