PKR Perak hopes Anwar stays in Tambun for PRU16
Translated from Malay and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- PKR Perak hopes Anwar Ibrahim will continue to contest in Tambun for the 16th General Election to help the party win more seats in the state.
- The party chairman sees Anwar's presence as crucial for strengthening the party's machinery in northern Peninsular Malaysia.
- Internal party analysis suggests Tambun is a challenging seat for PKR, but the party remains optimistic about defending its current four parliamentary seats and gaining more.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in Perak is urging Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to remain as the candidate for the Tambun parliamentary seat in the upcoming 16th General Election (PRU-16). The state chairman, Hairul Amir Sabri, believes Anwar's continued presence in Tambun is vital for creating a wave that will help the party secure more victories across Perak.
Sabri emphasized that the party "absolutely needs the President to be in Perak to help us win more seats." This call comes amidst speculation that Anwar might shift his candidacy to constituencies in the Klang Valley, which are considered PKR strongholds. Such speculation is fueled by internal party analyses that reportedly label Tambun as a difficult seat for PKR in the next election.
Despite these internal assessments, Sabri stated that there has been no official decision regarding a change in Anwar's constituency. He noted that it is "too early" to determine, and based on past experience, Anwar typically makes such decisions within two to three months before the election, irrespective of a seat's perceived safety.
Sabri acknowledged that internal PKR data indicates no seat is guaranteed in Perak, viewing this as a "healthy challenge." He stressed the need for realism, stating, "We are aware. Seats in Perak are not easy to win, including Tambun itself, because it is a mixed-race constituency." He also mentioned Tanjung Malim, Gopeng, and Sungai Siput as other seats that require significant effort, despite being currently held by PKR.
Looking ahead, Sabri expressed optimism that PKR Perak can defend its existing four parliamentary seats and aims to capture additional ones. He also addressed the potential impact of Parti Bersama Malaysia, led by former PKR Deputy President Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, anticipating that some PKR members in Perak might join the new party. However, he could not provide exact figures, as this information is primarily gathered through social media and the party headquarters holds the official membership data.
Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.