Kajang by-election: Zaid Ibrahim: My chances brighter than Anwar

KAJANG: Embattled Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim found support for his continued leadership in Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who announced his candidacy for the Mar 23 by-election.

"This decision (to contest) was made after careful thought and consultation and in the interest of "principled politics."

"I recognise and respect the mandate given to the current state leadership (Khalid)," Zaid, the former Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Malaysia (Kita) president, told a press conference here. Present was his wife Datin Suliana Shamsuddin.

Zaid added that his decision to stand against Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was aimed at defending "principled politics" and the mandate given to Khalid and his administration.

Zaid, a former PKR leader who helped draft Pakatan Rakyat's Common Policy Framework, said that Anwar's attempt at ousting Khalid through political coup d'etat was inappropriate and dangerous.

"There is a real risk that misuse of political position by Anwar to take power from Khalid will tear Pakatan apart," he said, citing internal bickering which had caused Pakatan's losses in Perak and Kedah.

He denied that his candidacy was personally motivated by Anwar's decision to contest.

"I have no issue of Anwar wanting to contest if it is to resolve the internal political crisis in Selangor but not when he is doing it to become MB.

"Even if Anwar fields Rafizi Ramli (PKR strategic director), I would have also contested," he said.

Asked if his candidacy would split the votes in a two-cornered fight between Pakatan and Barisan Nasional, he said it did not matter to him as that was not his main intention.

"There are bloggers who say that I will split the votes. That is really not my concern as I would not know how the people will vote," he said.

On his chances of winning, Zaid, who lost to Barisan's P. Kamalanathan by about 1,000 votes in a by-election in Hulu Selangor, said "it is brighter than Anwar."

He admitted that he would be facing Anwar's die-hard supporters who were blind to the Opposition leader's shortcomings.

However, Zaid was optimistic that Barisan would not attack him too much during the campaigning as the issue in Selangor concerns Anwar and his deputy Azmin Ali.

"In Hulu Selangor, Barisan's three heavyweights (Najib, Mahathir and Muhyiddin) campaigned against me.

"This time I don't think they will whack me as hard as the campaign will be on Anwar and Khalid.

"If I win and Anwar loses, I will bring peace to Pakatan in Selangor," he said.

Zaid said he would start campaigning immediately and adopt a low-key and one-on-one approach to meet voters.

"I hope voters in Kajang will make a wise choice in the face of the current crisis between Khalid, Anwar and Azmin.

"I believe this can happen if I win," he added.