Former Negri MB rules out facing Anwar

SEREMBAN: Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (pic) has ruled himself out as Barisan Nasional’s candidate in the upcoming Port Dickson by-election.

The Umno deputy president said he needs to focus on his Rantau state seat following an election petition filed by PKR to nullify his win in the May 9 polls.

“In my personal opinion, a local should be fielded in this latest by-election.

“But the final decision has to come from the Barisan Nasional supreme council, including if MIC should be contesting the seat,” he said, adding that a meeting would also be held with the state Barisan to discuss the matter.

The former three-term mentri besar said a local would give a better fight against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

State MIC chief Datuk L. Manickam said the party had no problems in allowing another Barisan component party to contest.

“Although Port Dickson has been traditionally contested by us, we are open to allowing another ally to stand there this time,” he said, adding that the decision would be left to Barisan leaders at the national level.

Separately, Khairy Jamaluddin has suggested that Linggi assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahman Redza should contest against Anwar.

The Rembau MP said Abdul Rahman, in his 40s, is a local and a graduate from the London School of Economics.

“He is a two-term assemblyman with a good performance record,” he said in a tweet.

Khairy also said that based on his political experience in Negri Sembilan, it was best that the seat was contested by a local although he acknowledged that it would be tough for Barisan.

In Putrajaya, Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the party’s management and political bureau would convene a

Although Port Dickson has been traditionally contested by (MIC), we are open to another ally to stand there this time. L. Manickam

meeting soon to discuss the matter.

“Whether we would consider sitting out this by-election is to be decided after the meeting,” he said when contacted.

MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran, when contacted, said the party would only decide at its central working committee meeting today its stand on the by-election.

In Kota Baru, PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said forcing a by-election costing millions just to satisfy one’s political aspiration was a waste of the rakyat’s money and time “just because a certain individual wants to be the prime minister”.

“Why allow wastage when the nation is facing serious debt issues?” he asked.