‘I’m happier if there’s no contest’
Anwar welcomes Barisan’s decision not to stand in PD by-election
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR presidentelect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim welcomes the decision by Barisan Nasional not to contest the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election in which he is standing.
Nevertheless, he said he still had to contend with other candidates, including Independent candidates, in the by-election.
Nomination is on Saturday and polling will be on Oct 13.
“I welcome those who are not contesting. I welcome a contest, but I’m happier if there’s no contest.
“If Umno is not contesting, of course I still have to face the Independent candidates,” Bernama reported him as saying after he delivered a talk on the Syarahan Negarawan 2018 lecture programme here yesterday.
Anwar said people were entitled to voice their criticism against him for the move to contest the seat in such a manner.
Umno president and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that Barisan was boycotting the by-election because it felt that the seat was vacated to fulfil the political aspirations of an individual.
Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah of PKR resigned as the Port Dickson MP on Sept 12 to allow Anwar to contest the seat to become an MP.
The Independent candidate for the seat is Stevie Chan Keng Leong.
PAS has yet to announce whether it will contest the seat.
In Seremban, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Aminuddin Harun said Barisan should stop harping on the manner the seat was vacated for Anwar, as Pakatan Harapan had decided to do so even before the May 9 general election.
“It was already made known long ago that a Pakatan-held seat will be vacated for Anwar once he is released from prison so that he can return to Parliament.
“To me, Umno and Barisan are not contesting not because the manner the seat was vacated, but because they do not have a suitable candidate against Anwar,” he said.