MP defends ‘ PD move’
> Vacating seat not betrayal of voters, says Danyal
PETALING JAYA: Former Port Dickson MP Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah has rubbished claims that his decision to vacate his seat to make way for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was tantamount to betrayal of the voters.
Danyal, who announced his resignation yesterday, said he would still continue to serve the people in the constituency.
“The word ‘betray’ is a bit too strong. Today, when I decided to vacate the seat, it is not out of enjoyment, but it is with the view that I will continue to serve (the people of Port Dickson).
“What I will need from Anwar is his backing. I’m not quitting the people. I’m staying, and I will act as Anwar’s eyes and ears on the ground,” he told a press conference yesterday.
“That message is very clear to the people in Port Dickson,” he added.
Danyal said he understood the constituents were happy that Anwar, who is prime minister-inwaiting, will be contesting in the area, adding that it would mean he could contribute more to people there, especially the poor.
In the last general election, Danyal obtained 36,225 votes to defeat Barisan Nasional’s Datuk V.S. Mogan and Mahfuz Roslan of PAS, who obtained 18,515 and 6,594 votes respectively.
Meanwhile, National Patriots Association (Patriot) president Brig Jen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji ( pix) said if Danyal, a retired admiral, is forced to make way for Anwar, it would cause unease among armed forces veterans and may create “backlash” from voting servicemen in Port Dickson.
He said PKR won in the 14th general election as the military personnel there chose Danyal.
“It may have a negative impact on future armed forces candidates,” he said, while urging PKR to reconsider Port Dickson as the venue of Anwar’s return to Parliament.