BUKIT GELUGOR Independent candidate in the Bukit Gelugor Parliamentary by-election, Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan, has hired 10 taxis to help his election machinery, starting this evening.

Although Abu Backer Sidek, 46, has his own vehicle, he often used the services of taxis to help the group boost their income.

“Furthermore, I am also keen to solve the issue of metered taxis because I find taxi drivers in the state do not use the meter not because they wanted to flout the law, but there are many constraints which are not overcome until today,” he told reporters in George Town.

Abu Backer, who believes he had a 60 percent chance of winning in the by-election, said the campaign content to date focused on introducing himself to the voters of Bukit Gelugor.

Claiming he had a date factory in Saudi Arabia, he said wanted to use his family caravan as a platform for ceramah but the vehicle was under repair.

In another development, Abu Backer Sidek, who is also a lawyer, denied he was racist and claimed the statement on ‘paria’ which was mentioned during nomination at Dewan Sri Pinang yesterday had been distorted by irresponsible quarters.

He said he had been called by police to give a statement on the incident.

Abu Backer would be involved in a four-corner fight in the by-election on May 25.

The other candidates were Ramkarpal Singh (DAP), Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice-president Huan Cheng Guan and alleged PAS member Mohamed Nabi Bux Mohd Nabi Abd Sathar who contested as an Independent.

- Bernama