Shahrir opts out of GE15, wants to clear name

PETALING JAYA: Johor Baru Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad (pic) is sitting out GE15, preferring to clear his name in court first.

However, he said he would still be leading the Barisan Nasional election machinery in Johor Baru.

“I have stated multiple times that I would not be contesting but I will lead the (Johor Baru) Barisan election machinery in order to bring victory to its GE15 candidate.

“The reasons are simple – I am defending my integrity and my name in court. That is the reason, but I’m still with Barisan,” said Shahrir on Facebook yesterday.

Shahrir, who first became Johor Baru MP in 1978, has defended the parliamentary seat in several elections under the Barisan ticket, except for 1988 when he resigned as MP and stood as an independent and won. However, he lost the seat to PKR’s Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir in the 14th General Election in 2018 with a 19,782-vote majority.

“It would be unfair to ask Johor Baru voters to clean my name. I have to clean my name first through the court process,” he said.

The former Felda chairman was charged with failing to declare RM1mil he received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board.