Wan Azizah's plea for 'votes of hope'

It is no longer a case of ‘votes of sympathy’ for her.

In 1999, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who contested in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in Penang for the first time won the seat handsomely. In 2004, she managed to scrap through with a slim majority.

This election however will be the first for her since her husband, ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was released from a six-year jail term following his sacking.

Wan Azizah recognised that the ‘free Anwar sentiment’ is no longer a factor in this election.

"In 1999, there were many sympathy votes for me and in 2004, Anwar was still in jail. This election, I hope the voters can cast their ‘votes of hopes’ to me," she told reporters in Penang last night, against the backdrop of Anwar’s banner with the slogan ‘ A new dawn for Malaysia ’.

At the press conference in Seberang Jaya, Wan Azizah revealed the names of the party’s candidates standing in four parliamentary seats and 16 state seats in Penang.

Wan Azizah herself will defend her Permatang Pauh seat and will face BN-Umno candidate Pirdaus Ismail, a former National Mosque iman , for the second time .

In 1999, Wan Azizah who entered active politics amid the height of reformasi won the seat by defeating her BN-Umno candidate with a 9,077-majority votes.

In the last 2004 election, the opposition PKR president retained the seat for the second term with only a 590-vote majority.

‘Nalla still a friend’

Asked whether she is confident of retaining her seat with an increased majority this time, Wan Azizah replied, "I don’t play by estimation, I am more worried about the Election Commission’s ability to conduct a free and fair election."

But she was quick to add, "Even in the 2004 election when the mood was all for the establishment (BN), I still won, give me some credit lah ."

To a question that former PKR leader KS Nallakaruppan was reported to be campaigning for BN in Permatang Pauh, Wan Azizah said she still considered the former a "friend".

Nallakaruppan, who has since formed his own Malaysian Indian United Party, quit PKR following differences with his former tennis buddy, Anwar, who is also the de facto PKR leader.

Asked why only Anwar’s, instead of her posters were seen in the constituency, she said: "This one (Anwar) is the de facto leader."

Wan Azizah later addressed a 400-odd crowd.

Tomorrow potential contestants will officially file their nomination papers at selected Election Commission centres between 9 and 10am. This will kick off the 13-day campaign which will end with polling on March 8.