Anwar to contest in Port Dickson

PETALING JAYA: Prime minister-inwaiting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will contest in t h e P o r t Di c k s o n parliamentary seat in a by-election to pave the way for his long-awaited political comeback.

The announcement was made by PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution I smail at t he party’s headquarters yesterday, that was also attended by the seat’s incumbent MP Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah.

Anwar, who is PKR president, was not present at the press conference as he was on a visit to Hong Kong.

He had previously said he would make a comeback in Parliament in October, after being granted a royal pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V on May 16. He had been in prison since Feb 10, 2015.

Saifuddin said Anwar chose the Port Dickson seat after considering all factors.

“Port Dickson, and Teluk Kemang previously, has been represented by PKR for the last three terms. We consider it to be one of the safest seats.”

He dismissed claims of nepotism should Anwar be elected, as his daughter Nurul Izzah and wife, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, are already MPs.

He said no compensation would be paid to Danyal for vacating the seat as it was done on his own accord.

Po r t Dickson is one of t he most racially-mixed seats i n t he country. Its 75 ,2 12 registered vo ters comprise 32,341 Malays (43%) , 23,819 Chinese (33%), 16,546 Indians (22%) and 1,504 (2%) voters of other races.

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