Streram is Pakatan’s candidate for Rantau

(The Star) – PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced Dr S. Streram (pic) as Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for the Rantau by-election on April 13.

Anwar said the decision was reached by the recent Pakatan presidential council.

“We have discussed this in the presidential council chaired by Prime Minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad),” he said at the PKR headquarters in Merchant Square on Monday (March 11).

Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, said that though there has recently been much rhetoric on the Malay-Muslim agenda, the coalition wanted to show that it represents the interests of all Malaysians.

“I asserted that we must remain consistent to present our case and our position as a party and coalition that represent all Malaysians.

“It’s better that we present our case to Malaysians so that we will not allow our struggle to be derailed or hijacked by racists or those with other agenda,” he said.

He acknowledged that although it would be difficult to contest against Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan, the party will try its best to prepare for the by-election.

The Election Commission announced that nomination for the Rantau polls will be on March 30 while early voting is fixed for April 9.

In GE14, Mohamad won the Rantau seat unopposed.

The by-election was triggered following the Federal Court decision to uphold an earlier ruling by an Election Court to nullify the results of the polls.

Election Court judge Azimah Omar allowed an election petition filed by Dr Streram, who was denied entry to submit his nomination form as he did not have a tag or pass.