Anwar challenge Najib to give walkover at Penanti

Permatang Pauh : Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has challenged Prime Minister Najib Razak to give a walkover at Penanti, where a by-election is due to be called following the resignation of its assemblyman Fairus Khairuddin.

“I call upon the BN and Umno leadership not to field any candidate against Keadilan in the Penanti by-election and give us a walkover.

It will not only save taxpayers’ money, time and energy, but also will be consistent with the PM’s statement,” Anwar said at a late-night address at his Permatang Pauh constituency.

Najib had accused Anwar of playing political games and ‘deliberately’ forcing the Penanti by-election.

The prime minister’s Umno -BN coalition has lost four out of five by-elections to Anwar’s Pakatan Rakyat since March 2008. His supporters believe that he cannot afford to lose another - not without severe backlash from rivals within his own Umno party.

Said Najib: “The people generally do not like by-elections that are held deliberately. There is so much time, energy and money being spent on by-elections that we do not even need.”

Meanwhile, taking the cue from Najib, the Election Commission said it would need time to study in detail whether a vacancy had occurred and the circumstances of the case before responding.

EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told reporters his commission would meet on Wednesday, Apr 22, and announce its decision only on Friday, Apr 24.

This is not the usual Umno-BN wastage, this is for Penangites

Fairus quit his state assembly seat on Thursday, a week after stepping down as deputy chief minister of Penang as allegations of corruption mounted against him.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission announced last week that investigations were completed and that it would be forwarding the case to its prosecution department.

Penang Keadilan chief Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said Fairus had made the decision to quit, and as such, his wishes should be respected by all quarters, including Najib.

“I am sure Fairus has good reasons for resigning, and I am also sure that Anwar has been briefed about it,” said Zahrain.

Meanwhile, political watchers believe it was important for Pakatan to ensure that Penang got the best political leaders possible, and if that required a democratic by-election, then so be it.

The by-election costs involved were negligible in comparison to the huge sums swallowed by the powers-that-be in Malaysia’s highly-corrupt political scene, they added.

“Fairus may not be charged, but the party and public interests must come first. I respect his wish to resign and the party will protect and safeguard his interests. We will provide the necessary legal defence for him,” Anwar had said.

A Malay heartland

Penanti is one of three state seats under the larger Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, held by Anwar.

In the 2008 general election, first-timer Fairus thumped his rival by obtaining 7,346 votes. Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid, who carried the Umno-BN flag, only managed to gain 5,127 votes, giving Fairus a 2,219 majority.

Located on the mainland, Penanti boasts a picturesque expanse of padi fields, with rubber and palm oil plantations dotting the constituency.

It is made up of little villages with a smattering of commercial activities. Most of the residents are industrial workers and small businessmen.

There are 15,421 voters, of whom 11,296 or 73 percent are Malay, 3,732 or 24 percent are Chinese, and 371 or 2 percent Indian. (SK)