PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is set to be challenged by Datuk Ezam Mohd Nor in the fight for the Langkawi Parliamentary seat in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).
The former political secretary to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will either contest as an independent candidate or with any political party willing to take him in.
In announcing this, Pertubuhan Perubahan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerak) secretary-general Syed Putra Syed Isa said that the movement had been urged to field a candidate to contest in Langkawi.
"It is our responsibility to field a serious contender against Mahathir, who has been a threat to the implementation of reforms in the country," he said, adding that this is why Gerak chairman Ezam had agreed to be fielded as a Langkawi candidate.
The former senator is expected to publicly announce the group's intentions when it launches its GE15 volunteer machinery on Sunday (Oct 16).
Earlier, Ezam who also leads the pro-Anwar group Gerakan Reformasi 98 (Gerak98), said that he would also be contesting for the Sungai Tua state seat, facing off against Selangor Mentri Besar and PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari if the latter decided to defend it.
He had also urged that Amirudin along with eight other Selangor PKR assemblymen should not contest in the coming general election, citing their previous links to former party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Dr Mahathir won the Langkawi seat under the Pakatan Harapan banner in 2018 with a majority of over 8,000 votes defeating UMNO's Datuk Nawawi Ahmad and Zubir Ahmad of PAS.
He now leads Pejuang and has since announced that he is going to defend his Langkawi seat.
