All set – but not quite
With just days to go before Parliament is dissolved, almost all the parties – both ruling and Opposition – seem to have come up with a consensus on their list of candidates, with the exception of some loose ends. However, Parti Sosialis Malaysia is caught in a protracted battle with fellow opposition parties which will allow only Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj to contest.
MUAR: The Member of Parliament for Kubang Pasu Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum said he is not afraid to face Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad if the former Prime Minister makes a comeback to contest in the constituency in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Mohd Johari, who is also the Deputy Defence Minister, said he knew Dr Mahathir very well because he had been his political secretary when Dr Mahathir was the Prime Minister then, and he perceived the former Prime Minister as a normal person.
“I’m not afraid (to face Dr Mahathir). Previously he appeared to be strong because Umno was backing and supporting him.
“It is Umno that is strong. Now, he is on the other side with another party which has no track record while Umno is still strong.
“The people see him as a great person because he had carried out major projects such as the KLCC and KLIA but without Umno and the deeds of the past Umno leaders, he is just a normal person,” he said at a media conference after handing over the Pingat Jasa Malaysia award to 147 Malaysian Armed Forces veterans, here yesterday.
Dr Mahathir was the MP for Kubang Pasu since the 4th General Election in 1974, and served in the area until 2004.
In GE11, Mohd Johari won the seat when he replaced Dr Mahathir and went on to defend it in GE12 and GE13. — Bernama