PETALING JAYA: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim(pic) has been invited to contest against Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah for the Tambun seat in Perak.
Anwar, who is also Permatang Pauh MP, told the press on Wednesday that he was considering contesting in Perak.
Previously, Perak PAS Youth invited Anwar to contest in Lumut. This time, the invitation was made by the Pakatan Rakyat leadership in Kerian district.
Quoting local Pakatan Rakyat sources, Malay daily Sinar Harian reported that the Anwar-Ahmad Husni face-off would be interesting since there are speculations that the incumbent would be the next menteri besar in the event BN forms the next government.
“Anwar should contest in 50-50 seats that are held by grade ‘A’ BN leaders to prove that Pakatan is serious in taking over the federal government.
“Ahmad Husni and BN’s defeat in Tambun will not only rattle BN for a long time but also make things difficult because they lack influential leaders,” said a source.
The source added that the Perak Pakatan leadership had been informed of this matter.
In the 12th general election, Ahmad Husni defeated PKR’s Mohd Asri Osman with a majority of 5,386 votes by polling 17,360 votes.
Meanwhile, Pasir Salak Umno MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman dared Anwar to contest in his constituency.
“I found out that Anwar is not confident of obtaining Malay support. There are speculations that he would opt for a non-Malay majority seat.
“If he truly wants to know the Malay’s acceptance of him, please come over and contest here,” he was was quoted as saying in Utusan Malaysia.
The Malay daily also villified PKR for spreading hate politics against BN in a bid to stay in power.
“PKR teaches people the politics of hate and enmity towards every government effort, including security matters,” Utusan editor Zulkiflee Bakar wrote.
The article claimed that PKR used DAP and PAS to gain Chinese and Malay support and does not have a support base of its own.
The writer also claimed that PKR was aware of their dwindling Malay support, hence the need to rely on PAS.
