'Welcome to Bagan Datuk' - Zahid tells potential challengers Shamsul, Tawfik

As PKR plans to parachute its former vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin to contest the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat, its incumbent MP Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he welcomes anyone who wishes to mount a challenge against him.

Zahid (above), who is Umno president, said he was open to having contenders - and confident that Bagan Datuk voters would not vote for outsiders.

"I am open (to challenge) and I wish to tell them, 'welcome to Bagan Datuk'," he said to Malaysiakini in a text message.

"Bagan Datuk voters will surely support a local candidate," Zahid added.

The former deputy prime minister was responding to a request for comments on news that Shamsul Iskandar and former Sungai Benut MP Tawfik Ismail would contest the Bagan Datuk seat.

Tawfik is the eldest son of the former deputy prime minister, the late Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman.

Shamsul is the incumbent Hang Tuah Jaya MP in Malacca and he was once dubbed as a “giant killer” after he defeated former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam in the 2018 general election.

However, for GE15, PKR reportedly plans to send Shamsul Iskandar to face Zahid instead of having him defend Hang Tuah Jaya. Malaysiakini learned that the Malacca seat would be contested by Adam Adli, who is PKR Youth chief. This will be Adam's electoral debut.

Tawfik, meanwhile, recently announced his wish to take on Zahid as an independent candidate under the Gerak Independent platform.

The 71-year-old was elected as the Sungai Benut MP in 1986. He left Umno the following year after the party's tumultuous leadership election.

Both Shamsul and Tawfik are expected to face an uphill battle against Zahid at the Umno stronghold, on which the party has never lost its grip, since the country's first general election.

Zahid himself has held the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat for six consecutive terms since he first won it in 1995, defeating each and every contender from various parties, including PKR, PAS and Semangat 46.

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