Kajang by-election: Zaid Ibrahim confirms contesting

Zaid Ibrahim.

PETALING JAYA: Former Umno and PKR leader Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's wife Datin Suliana Shamsuddin Alias  has given her consent for him to contest in the Kajang by-election.

He posted her consent on his Twitter and Facebook page right after he said that he might be tempted to contest in the by-election.

“Suliana said yes to Kajang- her Valentine present,” he posted on Friday.

At first, he stressed that his desire to get back on the campaign trail was subject to his wife’s approval.

"She and the children are not happy about me possibly being back in politics, especially when vicious personal attacks are launched against me.

"I tell them that for as long as I am a political commentator there is no escaping these tirades and insults. But there can also be no democracy or freedom in our country if everyone stays silent for fear of being insulted,” he said.

Zaid, who was the law minister with Barisan Nasional before jumping ship to PKR in 2009, said running in the election would enable him to address the numerous political and economic issues the country is facing.

"Writing this blog is fun but it would also be good to talk to real people face-to-face, listen to what they have to say and, of course, have satay with them.

"Talking to Kajang voters would also test the acceptability of some of my ideas, which in turn could be useful feedback for our policy-makers,” he said in his blog (www.zaid.my).

Zaid left PKR in 2011 and then formed his own party, Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita).

The Kota Baru-born lawyer-turned-politician also outlined a few points that he would address during the campaigning period.

These included the importance of battling the roots of racial polarisation, the effort to preserve peace and solidarity between Muslims and Non-Muslims, as well as economic and educational programmes on building skills.

He also said he would alert supporters of Pakatan Rakyat to the dangers of changing the current Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, as this would lead to the breakup of the alliance.

“If that happens, there goes our dream of a two-party system. The Barisan Nasional hegemony would continue as it has for far too long already,” he said.

Kajang by-election has been fixed for March 23, following the abrupt resignation of PKR assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh recently to pave way for PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest the seat.