"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.
