PETALING JAYA, April 19 — Datuk Dr Halili Rahmat, who was previously speculated to be picked as PKR’s candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, quit the party today.
The party instead picked Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to contest the April 25 by election.
Dr Halili, who was division treasurer, said he would apply to join Umno as he claimed PKR has deviated from its original struggle.
Also present at the announcement was former PKR secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim who chaired the press conference.
A neurosurgeon, Dr Halili was one of the founding leaders of the then National Justice Party and contested in the 1999 and 2004 general election in Hulu Selangor and in Batang Kali.
A close friend of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Halili was listed by the party as one of 12 the potential candidates for the federal seat left vacant by the death of PKR MP Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
“Today’s PKR is under the control of a small group of leftists who are not acceptable to the Malays and Malaysians,” said Dr Halili who was reading from a prepared statement.
“At the same time I can see that the government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been working very hard and sincere in bringing political change,” he said.
Dr Halili told the media that he chose to make the announcement during the Hulu Selangor campaign period as he does not want his name to be used by his former party.
“I am aware that some will accuse me of being disappointed for not selected as candidate, but I have never offered myself to be the Hulu Selangor candidate,” said Dr Halili who is from Hulu Yam, a neighbourhood within the Hulu Selangor constituency.
When asked whether he will help in the Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign, Dr Halili replied he may be unable to do so as he has to attend his son’s convocation in Australia.
He also said he attended the PKR candidate announcement rally out of curiosity.
“Maybe my name would be announced, I just wanted to know,” said Dr Halili when asked about his presence at the rally in Serendah last week.
On his relationship with Anwar, Dr Halili said he only served Anwar in his professional capacity.
“I am a professional, if I’m needed I have to give treatment, it’s a private matter,” he said adding that he has been Anwar’s personal surgeon since 1994.
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