PAS rep taking a break to help wife

Sheikh: She will be retiring and I won’t be seeking re-election in GE14

JOHOR BARU: A two-term PAS assemblyman, who has been involved in politics for about 30 years, is taking a break to help his wife “retire peacefully” from the civil service.

“My wife will be retiring in the next few months but her service has been extended on a contract basis.

“As such, I will not be seeking re-election in GE14. I will take a break for at least a year or two,” said Dr Sheikh Ibrahim Salleh, who is the Simpang Jeram incumbent.

He declined to say much, except to indicate that he did not want to put his wife in a difficult situation as she is a government officer at the senior level of Jusa A.

Dr Sheikh said his wife had always been there for him since the beginning and it was now his turn.

However, talk is rife that Dr Sheikh, who is a doctor, has had a change of heart and is now Pakatan Harapan-friendly, especially with Parti Amanah Negara.

Asked about this, he declined to comment, saying that he was still with PAS.

“I just need a break from politics. I am friends with everyone,” he said, adding that he did not want to contest under PAS, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia or even Amanah.

However, he said support for PAS had declined after the party quit the then Pakatan Rakyat.

In fact, he believes that Pakatan would stand a better chance to win his seat this elections.

Dr Sheikh has been contesting in general elections since 1990.

He won the Sungai Abong seat (now known as Simpang Jeram) in 2008.

At GE13, Dr Sheikh won the seat with a 3,813-vote majority against Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Dr Haris Salleh.

PAS is expected to field Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya as the candidate for the Simpang Jeram seat this time.

Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub is expected to be going for Simpang Jeram too, besides the Pulai parliamentary seat.

Dr Sheikh was also of the view that it would be difficult for Pakatan Harapan to capture Johor as it needed to win in at least 20 state seats with a large number of Felda voters.

My wife will be retiring in the next few months but her service has been extended for at least a year or two. Dr Sheikh Ibrahim Salleh