KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Anifah Aman (pic) has claimed that he turned down a minister’s position offered by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in exchange for him not contesting in the Nov 19 general polls.
The former foreign minister alleged that Ahmad Zahid tried to persuade him not to stand as a candidate for the southwestern Kimanis seat, where he had been a four-term MP previously, and to instead give his backing to the Barisan Nasional candidates.
"And (for that) he will give me a senatorship and make me the foreign minister, but I said that is not what I wanted," he said at a Pakatan Harapan ceramah featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Sepanggar near here last night (Nov 12).
"What I wanted was for everything enshrined under the Federal Constitution (for Sabah) as well as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to be fulfilled, that is my struggle," he added, to loud cheers from Pakatan supporters.
Anifah also said that one of the reasons why he chose not to contest in GE15 was that he wanted to team up with Anwar, who is PKR president, and give his support to Pakatan candidates contesting in the polls.
He added he had urged and appealed with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak previously for the MA63 to be implemented and the 40% net revenue owed by Putrajaya to be returned to Sabah.
"This is because this will secure a better future for our youth (such as) allowing them to venture into small industries, to send our children to universities as well as giving women business capital," he said.
The Parti Cinta Sabah president, meanwhile, said Anwar was the reason why he entered politics.
Anifah also likened GE15 as a last chance saloon for Malaysians to decide on a prime minister who could bring the nation forward.
"We need a leader who can handle the state of our economy now. And that person is none other than Anwar, the best former finance minister in Asia.
"Anwar is a leader who really has the people in his heart. I ask the people to give him the opportunity to become our prime minister," he said.
Anifah had also attended an earlier event with Anwar in Putatan near here.
PCS, which is a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan friendly, failed to win in any of the 73 state seats it contested in the snap Sabah election on Sept 26, 2020.
