Saiful: It feels good shaking Anwar's hands again

PORT DICKSON: Despite being embroiled in a sensational sodomy scandal 10 years ago with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan said it felt good shaking hands with the latter on nomination day for the Port Dickson polls.

"It has been a long time. It feels good (to shake his hands). We should be mature enough in a new democratic era.

"To me, we have to move forward in terms with the whole democratic process itself," he told reporters when met after submitting his nomination papers to contest in the Port Dickson by-election on Saturday (Sept 29).

Earlier, the duo shared an awkward moment when they briefly shook hands before entering the nomination centre at the Port Dickson Municipal Hall.

Meanwhile, Saiful said he would not resort to personal attacks, maintaining that he will not speak about the Sodomy II case in his campaign.

"No. My narrative is not about the case. It's about other things. Moving forward, I don't want to talk about the past. We should talk about the future.

"The case is already settled. He received pardon, what else is there to talk about?" he said.

At the same time, Saiful launched a thinly-veiled attack against Anwar, saying that the Port Dickson by-election was engineered to make way for his intention to eventually become prime minister.

"This election is engineered because one of the contestants would like to become PM. He has to tell the people of Port Dickson his policies.

"The veterans in Malaysian politics, I think they have to start to slow down and give room to the younger generation," he said.

Saiful added that he will elaborate on his election manifesto in the coming days during the campaigning period.

The polls, which was the fourth held since Pakatan Harapan won the May 9 polls, will take place on Oct 13.

It will see a seven-cornered fight between Pakatan, PAS, and five independent candidates - Tan Sri Isa Samad, Mohd Saiful, Stevie Chan Keng Leong, Lau Seck Yan and Kan Chee Yuen.