In the midst of various criticisms against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s surprising candidacy in Kajang, PKR’s northern region youth wings have jointly pledged their support for their boss.

The statement issued today was jointly signed by 13 people, including Youth chiefs Dr Afif Bahardin (Penang, also Seberang Jaya assemblyperson), Azman Nasruddin (Kedah, Lunas assemblyperson), Amar Ghazali (Perlis) and Zafril Eusoff (Perak).

MPs Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru) and Gooi Hsiao Leung (Alor Setar), as well as state assemblypersons Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk), Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah), Dr Krishnamoorthy Rajannaidu (Bukit Selambau), Chang Lih Kang (Teja), Simon Ooi (Bakar Arang), Tan Kar Hing (Simpang Pulai), Chua Yee Ling (Kuala Sepetang) also signed the statement in support of Anwar.

“We fully support Anwar to contest in Kajang to ensure a total win for Pakatan Rakyat in the by-election,” they said.

“We will give our full support to ensure his victory in Kajang. Our entire machinery from Perlis to Kedah, Penang and Perak will be there to help PKR and Pakatan win this seat,” they added.

The group said they believed the Kajang by-election must take place to achieve the goals of ‘reformasi’, PKR’s battle cry since Anwar fell from grace and was incarcerated, after being sacked from his deputy prime minister post by then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998.

“There must be change to improve Selangor, and unity in struggle is the main hallmark of success,” they added.

The group of 13 also pledged to assist in the PKR election campaign headed by Selangor party chief Azmin Ali.

“Let the road from Kajang lead to Putrajaya,” they said, echoing Anwar’s urging to justify his candidacy in Kajang.

Politicians across the board, and NGO activists including those from Suaram and Bersih, have criticised Anwar and PKR for the controversial developments in Selangor, saying they have “betrayed democracy for the sake of political expediency”.

The by-election, to be called with 60 days, came about after former Kajang assemblyperson Lee Chin Cheh resigned abruptly on Monday for the sake of bettering the party.

PKR has explained that the decision to contest in Kajang was a “tactical move” to prepare for the Sarawak state and 14th general election which may be called by 2016, although the latter is not slated until May 2018.

This is Anwar’s second ‘forced’ by-election, the first being in 2008 when his wife and former Permatang Pauh MP for two years (1999 and 2004) resigned to pave the way for his return to politics after serving a six-year jail term for sodomy and abuse of power.