Divisions back Wan Azizah to contest in S’gor
A division chief says the arrival of the PKR chief in Selangor will unite the party in the face of a strong BN challenge.
Leven Woon, FMT
Selangor PKR grassroots leaders have responded positively to party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s intention of contesting a state seat here, with six PKR division chiefs expected to hold a joint press conference tomorrow in support of her.
A source told FMT today, the division heads of Klang, Kapar, Kuala Langat, Hulu Langat, Hulu Selangor and Sungai Besar would meet tomorrow in Klang to show their support for Wan Azizah.
He said the grassroots leaders opined that Wan Azizah’s arrival would raise party members’ morale and enhance unity in the face of a crucial general election battle.
He said some division chiefs have offered Wan Azizah the seats of Sementa or Pelabuhan Klang to contest.
PKR lost control of Pelabuhan Klang following the defection of its elected assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah to Umno in 2010. Whereas in Sementa, the PKR candidate did not show up on the nomination day in 2008 GE, making BN the winner of the seat by default.
“Both seats are made up of Malay majority voters. We need a party heavyweight like Wan Azizah to convince them to vote for Pakatan,” he said.
There were also talks that Wan Azizah would stand in one of the state seats in the Shah Alam parliamentary constituency.
News about Wan Azizah’s return to active politics surfaced after she said she was eligible to contest in a state seat when asked yesterday.
New Straits Times reported that the wife of Anwar Ibrahim may be eyeing the Selangor Menteri Besar post.
Originally elected as Permatang Pauh parliamentarian in the 2008 general election, Wan Azizah resigned a few months later to make way for her husband’s return to politics.
Following that, she has been banned from contesting any parliamentary seats for five years.
