Sivaraj will be considered for a role in unity government, says Saifuddin Nasution

KULIM: Datuk C. Sivaraj (pic), the Barisan Nasional candidate for Padang Serai parliament constituency, will be considered for a suitable role in the Unity Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Sivaraj previously agreed to give way and unconditionally support the Pakatan candidate to win in the election on Dec 7.

"Sivaraj’s withdrawal was made unconditionally. But I’m convinced as a young leader, Sivaraj deserves a spot.

"In a new government like ours, surely there are places that these young leaders deserve and we will consider it," he told reporters after attending a PH mega-political talk here tonight, along with fellow attendees Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Sivaraj and Pakatan candidate Dr Mohamad Sofee Razak.

On Sivaraj’s withdrawal from the election, Saifuddin Nasution said it was done following discussions between Pakatan, MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said one of the reasons posed by Pakatan justifying Barisan’s withdrawal was Pakatan’s agreement to give way to Barisan’s candidate in the Tioman state election in Pahang.

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"So in the spirit of the existing coalition government consisting of both these blocks in Tioman, PH withdrew, while in Padang Serai, Sivaraj gave way and I have stressed repeatedly he did so unconditionally, just like the withdrawal in Tioman was done without any conditions," he added.

On Anwar’s self appointment of Finance Minister being the subject of debate by many parties, Saifuddin Nasution, who was also Home Minister, said the names proposed and presented to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had been done according to due process and took all matters into consideration.

"One decision of course has its pros and cons, and we went along with it as we are confident that with his experience, he is able to lead this important ministry," he said. - Bernama