Perak MB candidate: Let’s win first and talk later, Chang says

Perak Pakatan Harapan revealed that the coalition has not decided on its menteri besar candidate if it recaptures the state in the upcoming general election.

State Harapan vice-president Chang Lih Kang said now is not the time to speak about this matter.

Instead, he stressed the importance of Harapan winning in the silver state first before deciding on other matters.

"All this was discussed but as I said, this is not the right time. I just want to confirm that we have people who are qualified to be Perak menteri besar.

"What is important is that we need to win first, then only we can discuss who will be appointed as Perak menteri besar.

"We have qualified candidates to be menteri besar not only one person, there are also several others. What is crucial is that we need to win first," Chang (above) told reporters after announcing the list of candidates who will be contesting in Perak.

Earlier today, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli named former (PSD) deputy director-general Zainal Azman Abu Seman as their Perak menteri besar candidate.

Rafizi said Zainal, who will be contesting the Kuala Sepetang state seat, had extensive experience as a government official.

Asked if Chang disagrees with the announcement made by Rafizi, the Perak PKR chairperson said Zainal is a good MB candidate, by the looks of his curriculum vitae.

“We’ll discuss after we win. It’s not for me to comment. We have enough good enough candidates to be menteri besar.”

PKR to contest 21 state seats

Meanwhile, efforts to obtain a response from Zainal have been unsuccessful as the man of the hour had left the event venue at Travelodge Hotel, Ipoh shortly after being announced as a candidate to stand in the Kuala Sepetang state seat.

Chang had also announced that PKR will be contesting in 21 state seats and among the candidates, 11 are below the age of 40.

He said Mohd Jamean Zulkifli, 28, who will be contesting in the Kenering state seat is the party’s youngest candidate.

Incumbent assemblyperson Muhamad Arafat Varisai Mahamad as well as Sandrea Ng Shy Ching will be defending their respective seats in Hulu Kinta and Teja.

Meanwhile, Wong Chai Yi will stand in the Simpang Pulai state seat, replacing Tan Kar Hing as the latter is fielded to contest the Gopeng parliamentary seat.

Chang also said that Anuar Ahmad will be fielded in Kuala Kurau, a state seat previously contested by Abdul Yunus Jamhari who won under Harapan in 2018 but later defected to Bersatu in 2020.

Other candidates announced at the event are Ahmad Safwan Mohamad in the Temengor state seat, Muhamad Aiman Azizuddi Md Husin (Batu Kurau), Khairul Azman Ahmad (Alor Pongsu), Junaida Jamaluddin (Trong) and Mohd Khairol Irwan Mat Khairi (Chenderoh).

Also made it to the list of candidates were Zaim Sidqi Zulkifly (Lintang), Mohamad Khairul Amir Sabri (Bukit Chandan), Abul Jais Ashfaq Ahmed (Pengkalan Baru), Usaili Alias (Bota) Mohd Azlan Helmi Helmi (Tualang Sekah) and Atyrah Hanim Razali (Chenderiang).

As for Sungai Manik, Pasir Salak branch chief Mohamad Maharani Md Tasi has been named as the candidate for the seat, Abdul Razak Nazri (Pangkor), S Wasanthee (Hutan Melintang) and Mohd Syahid Mohd Zainu (Slim).

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