Sg Bakap polls outcome could mark Anwar's return to Permatang Pauh

SG BAKAP BY-ELECTION | The Sungai Bakap by-election results could yet signal Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s return to the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in the next general election.

Darul Ehsan Institute (IDE) chairperson Mohammad Redzuan Othman said this had piqued observers’ interest due to rumours that Anwar might return to his former traditional seat to restore Pakatan Harapan’s strength.

“Sungai Bakap is a neighbouring area to another important parliamentary seat, Permatang Pauh.

“The outcome of this by-election will determine whether he returns to Permatang Pauh or chooses other areas,” he said at a press conference analysing the Public Perception Landscape Survey ahead of the Sungai Bakap by-election in Shah Alam yesterday.

IDE is a think tank owned by the Selangor government and led by Harapan.

For the record, Anwar, the Tambun MP, started his political career with Umno by contesting in Permatang Pauh in 1982. He held the seat until he was expelled from the party on Sept 3, 1998.

His wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, took over the seat in 1999 until 2008, stepping down to allow Anwar to contest in a by-election in August 2008.

Anwar retained his seat in the 2013 general election but lost it again after being convicted in the second sodomy case in 2015. Wan Azizah reclaimed the seat in a by-election on May 7, 2015.

Strong backing for PM

However, in an unexpected turn, their daughter, Nurul Izzah, failed to retain the seat after losing to Perikatan Nasional candidate Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan in the 2018 general election.

Redzuan said voters’ support for Anwar in Sungai Bakap is satisfactory.

“Support for Anwar is one of the factors giving the Harapan-BN coalition an advantage in this by-election.

“Over 57 percent of voters agree that Anwar is a leader who fights for the Palestinian cause.

“Additionally, 64.4 percent said Anwar is a leader known internationally, and 57.8 percent believe Anwar is capable of uniting Malaysia’s ethnic groups,” he said.

He added that diesel subsidies are not very significant in Sungai Bakap.

Instead, voters are slightly concerned about rising prices following the implementation of targeted diesel subsidies last month.

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