Nga defends ‘fearless spirit of supreme leader’ against Azmin’s jab

Perak DAP chairperson Nga Kor Ming waxed lyrical in Mandarin about Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to wage a high-stakes battle in the state.

He was responding to Bersatu supreme council member Azmin Ali's accusation that the Pakatan Harapan chairperson opted against standing in Gombak because he feared rejection from the Malay electorate.

Azmin, whose defection from PKR together with his loyalists contributed to the fall of the Harapan federal government in 2020, is the incumbent in Gombak.

Speaking to reporters in Mandarin at the sidelines of Anwar’s tour of the Tambun parliamentary constituency, Nga said: “The supreme leader is using his fearless spirit to create a breakthrough.”

“Azmin said Anwar is afraid of facing Malay voters but Malay voters in Tambun make up almost 60 percent. This shows he lacks common knowledge.

“Anwar’s spirit and courage to enter the lion’s den deserves our applause and support. It proves that he is a leader of the people,” he added.

Nga pointed out that Tambun had been an Umno fortress for more than five decades before falling to Bersatu in the last general election.

“Anwar is brave enough to attack this fortress. He has the important qualities to be the commander in chief of Harapan,” he added, urging the voters to support the coalition’s prime minister candidate.

Against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape, the Harapan chairperson is expected to face a multi-cornered contest in Tambun, whose incumbent is Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

Speaking at an event in Petaling Jaya last night, Azmin claimed that Anwar is “running” to Tambun because it has fewer Malay voters compared to Gombak.

Previously, Penang Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director Mansor Othman hurled a similar accusation against Anwar.

He noted how Azmin had challenged the PKR president to contest in Gombak after the latter said that “PKR traitors” must be taught a lesson in the polls.

“When Azmin responded to Anwar’s statement, by challenging him (Anwar) or any of his family members to compete in Gombak, he (Anwar) tried to close the subject.

“Is this the courage of a great leader touted as a prime minister candidate?” he asked.

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