FULL REPORT KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today announced that PKR will contest in Batu Sapi, Sabah, after achieving a consensus with Pakatan Rakyat top leadership.
Anwar, who is also the PKR de facto leader, said that the decision was made as the seat was originally allocated to PKR during the last general election. But the party opted out as it could not field a candidate.
"Pakatan in Sabah has met and decided that PKR candidate will represent us in the by-election," he said.
Asked about another opposition Sabah-based party Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) which has also expressed interest to join the fray, Anwar said that he preferred a "straight fight" with Barisan Nasional (BN).
"I hope they (SAPP) will not contest because we would like a straight fight with BN," he said.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) will represent BN in the by-election.
PKR candidate to be known soon
Anwar, who is also the Permatang Pauh MP, said that the party will announce its candidate "soon".
While PKR is still in the midst of its selection process, BN is almost set to name PBS vice-president Thien Yui Fun as its choice.
Thien, a former Sungai Sibuga assemblyman, and several back-up candidates have been picked by PBS, pending a greenlight from Chief Minister and state BN chairman Musa Aman.
BN is scheduled to officially name its candidate this Sunday.
The seat, comprising 24,047 ordinary voters and 1,535 postal voters, fell vacant following the death of incumbent Edmund Chong Ket Wah in a road accident on Oct 9.
The Election Commission has fixed the by-election on Nov 4, with nomination taking place on Oct 26. The Batu Sapi by-election will be held simultaneously with the Galas state seat by-election in Kelantan.
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