Ezam hints at GE15 comeback, says ready to challenge S'gor MB
Mulling a political comeback, former senator Ezam Mohd Nor today said he is ready to challenge Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari if the latter is fielded by PKR to defend the Sungai Tua state seat in the coming 15th general election (GE15).
"I received many suggestions from the grassroots.
"In Sungai Tua, I want to challenge Amirudin if...
Mulling a political comeback, former senator Ezam Mohd Nor today said he is ready to challenge Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari if the latter is fielded by PKR to defend the Sungai Tua state seat in the coming 15th general election (GE15).
"I received many suggestions from the grassroots.
"In Sungai Tua, I want to challenge Amirudin if the party will still field him as a candidate," said Ezam (above) who now leads a loose movement of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's sympathisers dubbed Gerak 98.
"Today we gather, Gerak 98 and Otai Reformis.
"We gather with the aim to save Selangor from a betrayal just like the Sheraton Move," he said, citing the exodus of MPs from PKR to Bersatu led by Senior Minister Azmin Ali last year that brought down the previous Pakatan Harapan federal administration.
Ezam, who left Umno in 1998 to be among the founding members of PKR's predecessor Parti Keadilan Nasional, claimed there were solid grounds to call upon the current party leadership to prevent another episode of betrayal.
PKR was wrecked by an internal split prior to Azmin's departure and the party had in the subsequent months rid its ranks of leaders and members found to be aligned with Azmin, who is a former PKR deputy president.
However, Ezam claimed there were still some Azmin supporters in PKR and said they have been appointed to key positions including in the Selangor state government.
"We call upon them (Azmin supporters), if they are true reformists, they should step up with an offer to the party, that they are willing to not be fielded in GE15.
"This is to open up room for new faces who are more clearly pro-reform," he said.
Ezam claimed the move would assist PKR's chances in the current critical times, and that the excluded leaders could make their comeback in subsequent general elections.
When quizzed to confirm his own GE15 plans, Ezam said he is ready to contest against Amirudin in Sungai Tua, a "Grade A" PKR seat.
"If he (Amirudin) says he will be contesting in Sabak Bernam, Tanjong Karang, areas not held by PKR, okay lah.
"But these (seats like Sungai Tua) are 'Grade A' PKR seats that should be given to others," he said.
Ezam added that Gerak 98 had yet to decide whether he would be fielded as an Independent candidate or contest under the banner of an existing political party.
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