INTERVIEW Penang Opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim has pointed out that former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would most like not defend his Kepala Batas seat.

Azhar, the state Umno liason secretary, said there are two Umno leaders who are eyeing the seat keenly - Umno Youth information chief Reezal Merican Naina Merican and former Bertam assemblyperson Hilmi Abdul Rashid.

NONE "I am not saying that they would be fielded but they have shown interest in the seat but the final say is up to the big boss," he told Malaysiakini in an interview, referring to Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Azhar, who has held the seat since 1997, then reconfirmed that he would not be contesting in Penaga, after 22 years of politics.

He said there were four young and "winnable" candidates interested in his seat, a hardcore Umno area, who will face Penang PAS election director Rosidi Hussain in the coming general election, which must be called by early next year.

The winnable candidate question

On the issue of winnable candidates, Azhar said the people contending must not only have the qualifications but must be accepted by the grassroots.

"If he is only highly qualified, and does not have rapport with the people, he is not a winnable candidate. Whether he is a doctor or engineer, he still must go to the ground," he said.

At 66, Azhar said, he has decided to give up politics on the advice family and friends, who want him to relax more and lead a healthy life.

pak lah final day briefing to pm office staff 020409 03 For those who can carry on despite aging, like former premier Mahathir Mohammad, these are considered "special species", he joked.

"I have always contested a state seat as the Parliament seat was under my ‘boss' - Pak Lah - but then I managed to become the president for the Seberang Perai Municipal Councillor," he reminisced.

"Although there was no chance to become chief minister (in Penang), at least I have become the opposition leader ," he quipped.

Glorified welfare officer

Azhar described the work of an assemblyperson as being a "glorified welfare officer" as one has to handle all kinds of duties, involving life and death events of constituents, especially those in the rural areas.

When asked what if the ‘big boss' insists on him defending his seat, Azhar said he has made his intentions clear via the media and to state Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman - who will convey the message to Najib.

On whether he had been an "effective" opposition leader, Azhar said he had tried to raise the issues of the people but the state government under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had failed to act on them.

He expressed disappointment that every time he raised an important issue, the Pakatan Rakyat found reasons to throw him out of the Penang legislative assembly.

After being suspended twice, Azhar is currently facing another rights and privileges committee for allegedly questioning the credibility of the Hansard.

He has refused to entertain the committee or to appear in the panel that will decide the duration of his suspension from the state assembly, describing it as a " kangaroo court ".

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