Given the chance, DAP's Zaid Ibrahim said he would only contest against either Johor Bahru MP Shahrir Abdul Samad or Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz in the 14th general election.

Writing in his blog, the former law minister said that were he hypothetically a Bersatu or PKR candidate, he would contest against either of the BN "icons" because their "blind loyalty" to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak represents the past. 

This loyalty, he said, is a “political phenomenon” that will result in a “perfect dictatorship” if left unchecked.

"When smart people abandon reason and obediently follow instructions at the expense of people's welfare, we have to face them and defeat them.

“This is another example of the kind of significant political narrative that interests me. Umno has a few ‘icons’ still making news every day, and they will continue to roam the streets unless Pakatan Harapan is willing to take them on," he wrote.

According to Zaid, he had received a tentative seat offer months ago, but he turned it down as it bore no political significance to him.

He would only contest, he elaborated, if his participation signified a new political narrative in the country – such as him running under a DAP flag in an "urban, Chinese-majority seat," which would dispel that notion that the party was Chinese-centric.

Zaid also dispelled the notion that he was looking for a "plum seat" and not willing to take risks, saying that if he had wanted safe politics, he would not have quit his ministerial position.

"My interest has always been about having a better future for the country, not about becoming a YB."

He said he would go to the south of the country next week to explain to the people, especially Malay voters, why "change is needed."

"I will keep reminding them that the elites have stolen from them for a long time and that it's about time we put a stop to it. I don't need to be a candidate to be a messenger."