Anwar: No decision on Perak MB candidate, let’s win first

The Pakatan Harapan presidential council has not discussed matters pertaining to naming a menteri besar candidate for Perak if it recaptured the state in the upcoming general election, said its chairperson Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar (above) affirmed that the coalition’s main focus now is to win the elections first.

“No, it has not been discussed at Harapan presidential council meeting.

“We have thrown the idea (around) but there’s no firm decision yet,” the opposition leader told reporters after a meet and greet event with the Indian community in Ulu Kinta, Perak this evening.

Although there was a suggestion brought about by PKR, Anwar said it was customary for matters pertaining to Harapan to be discussed among leaders in the coalition.

“Like the candidate for prime minister, PKR suggested Anwar.

“We discussed it in the coalition and we reached a consensus to name Anwar as the candidate. So we went with that,” he stated.

Yesterday, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli named former Public Service Department deputy director-general Zainal Azman Abu Seman as Harapan’s Perak menteri besar candidate.

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

However, the coalition’s Perak chapter later clarified that the matter has not been decided.

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.

Meanwhile, DAP vice-chairperson Nga Kor Ming reiterated Anwar’s calls for Harapan to focus on ensuring the coalition’s contesting candidates win in the election.

“Harapan presidential council will make the announcement when the time is right.

“We want to focus on winning 35 state seats, God willing, to form a stable government,” he told reporters after launching Malim Nawar’s operations room.

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