KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — Alluding to the scramble among allies for the Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Pakatan Rakyat needed a committed candidate who will not easily sway to bribery or threats.
"The recent experience is a lesson and the party must ensure its struggle is not sacrificed for a narrow agenda," the Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader wrote in his weblog today.
He disclosed that PKR vice-president Azmin Ali launched the election machinery in Sungai Petani and was confronted by quarters lobbying for their candidates including from allies who wanted candidates who were either Malay, from Hindraf, veteran Reformasi members and others through requests, demands, threats.
Saying the people must realise the cooperation that has realised a Pakatan Rakyat government, Anwar said what was important was to have "a candidate committed to the struggle, who is not easily swayed by bribery or threats".
"The people and the voters demand a qualified and capable candidate," said Anwar.
Former RMAF trainer V. Arumugam won Bukit Selambau as an independent in Election 2008 and later joined PKR after he was promised a state executive councillor position. However, he quit the seat and post on Feb 9 after claiming he had been threatened and offered money to defect to Barisan Nasional.
Pakatan Rakyat leaders backed his claims of threats but a few said he quit due to allegations of bigamy. He is now apparently in hiding but his resignation has opened up opportunities for the electoral pact parties to pick up another seat in the 36-seat Kedah state assembly.
Pas, DAP and the banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindaf) have expressed interest to stand for elections there. The Election Commission will meet tomorrow to decide the date for nomination and by-election.
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