KKB polls: Credentials in the spotlight

PETALING JAYA: The educational credentials of Perikatan Nasional candidate Khairul Azhari Saut has become a talking point in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign, with Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari questioning the opposition candidate’s honesty on the issue.

The state Pakatan Harapan chairman added that leaders must be honest instead of trying to hide their flaws or being evasive.

Otherwise, he said, it would be difficult for the people to vest their trust in the said leaders.

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He was commenting on Khairul Azhari’s lack of reaction after questions were raised about how he could have a Master’s degree even though his previous qualification was a diploma.

The 54-year-old candidate declined to comment when asked about the matter on Saturday, adding that he would respond later.

Amirudin questioned why Khairul Azhari had avoided replying on the issue then.

“He should have just said he has a certificate instead of saying ‘no comment’,” the Mentri Besar said after launching the Bumi Kita Festival and the Selangor Earth Day 2024 in Kelana Jaya here yesterday.

He added the issue has become a hot topic and now, the Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA) accreditation over Khairul Azhari’s Master’s degree is also being questioned.

The MQA is a formal recognition that a certificate, diploma or degree programme has attained the quality standards and criteria set.

On another matter, Amirudin said Pakatan Harapan candidate Pang Sock Tao was chosen based on her ability to deliver and to continue the work of the late incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong.

“Even though many voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu are Malays, they voted for Lee in the past.

“Pakatan’s stand is not about race but about our performance and policies.”

He was asked to comment on Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement saying that Perikatan fielded a Malay candidate due to the request of the majority Malay population in Kuala Kubu Baharu.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election sees a four-cornered fight between candidates from Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, Parti Rakyat Malaysia and an Independent candidate. It was held after the demise of Lee on March 21 due to cancer.