I'm a party man, I will toe the line - says Sivarraajh on poll withdrawal rumours

BN’s Padang Serai candidate C Sivarraajh said he is a party man and he has to toe the line of the party leadership, adding that he will continue to be loyal to the coalition.

“I am a party man and I have to abide and follow the decisions of my party leadership and I pledge to continue to follow the decisions of my party leadership for the future and betterment of the nation,” Sivarraajh said.

He was asked to comment on speculations that he was pulling out from contesting the election on Dec 7.

Sivarraajh expressed his support for Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for Padang Serai, Mohamad Sofee Razak, and the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He added that his supporters should now vote for the Harapan candidate when they head to the polls.

BN and Harapan leaders are expected to announce Sivarraajh’s withdrawal tonight following the two coalition’s cooperation to form the federal government.

Political analyst M Periasamy said Sivarraajh is portraying leadership by example by toeing the party line and that BN’s decision to withdraw was aimed at unifying the two coalitions.

“We understand that the top party leadership that allowed Sivaraj to contest in the 15th general election as a BN candidate for Padang Serai but has now asked him to give way in the interest of the Harapan-BN understanding and the formation of the government.

“The people should appreciate Sivaraj for respecting the decision of the top party leadership to give way to another candidate, who is now a partner in the same coalition and as requested by the top leaders,” Periasamy said.

He added there is now a greater chance for Harapan to win Padang Serai following Sivarraajh’s withdrawal.

Sivaraj was reportedly offered a senator post for withdrawing from the contest.

Harapan’s candidate, Sofee, will be facing Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Azman Nasruddin, Pejuang’s Hamzah Abd Rahman, and independent Sreanandha Rao.

“Yes, he was offered the position of a senator to withdraw. It is possible that he will be sworn in as a senator at the first session of Dewan Negara,” the source told Malaysiakini.

The Warisan candidate, Mohd Bakri Hashim, had also withdrawn himself from the contest for similar reasons.

Source: Padang Serai BN candidate offered senatorship for Harapan walkover

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