Kit Siang ayes Tawfik's Bagan Datuk bid

Gerak Independent co-founder Tawfik Ismail, who has expressed interest in challenging Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat, has received an endorsement from DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

In a statement today, Lim urged Pakatan Harapan’s leadership to provide a “proper and positive response” to Tawfik's request to contest under the coalition’s ticket.

“This will be an excellent way to hightlight the theme of GE15 - that it is not to ensure that Umno and BN leaders escape from being charged in court for corruption and being sent to jail, as he (Zahid) said in his infamous MIC assembly speech on the same day that Parliament was dissolved, but to fight corruption and to build Malaysia into a great, world-class, plural nation by Malaysia’s centennial,” said Lim (above).

Tawfik is the son of former deputy prime minister Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman and was once the Sungai Benut MP. Tawfik left Umno in 1987.

He declared his candidacy against Zahid and will campaign on an anti-corruption platform. Zahid - a six-time MP for Bagan Datuk - is currently facing trial for corruption.

Soon after announcing his candidacy, Tawfik has openly requested Harapan to endorse him as their candidate.

Tawfik was once a corporate man and had a stint in Fleet Group Sdn Bhd - Umno’s business arm. He also played a role in setting up Malaysia's first private broadcaster TV3 in 1984.

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