IPOH: Perak PKR wants Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest again in Tambun in the next general election.
Perak PKR chairman Mohamad Hairul Amir Sabri said Anwar’s presence is crucial in helping the party strengthen support and win more seats in the state.
He said there have been no discussions so far on changing Anwar’s seat, dismissing speculation circulating on social media that he may not defend the Tambun parliamentary constituency.
"We in Perak very much need the president to remain in Perak to help us win more parliamentary and state seats in the next election," he said.
"At this stage, it is still too early to determine anything, as based on our experience with Datuk Seri Anwar, decisions are usually made only two or three months before the election," he told reporters last night (May 23).
Mohamad Hairul told reporters this after the opening of the new Perak PKR headquarters in Meru here on Saturday (May 24).
Also present was Perak PKR deputy chairman Tan Kar Hing, who is also the Gopeng MP, and several other leaders.
Mohamad Hairul said for Anwar, the question is not whether a seat is safe or otherwise.
"He came to Tambun as part of efforts to boost momentum in the north and help deliver more seats in Perak for the coalition at the federal level," he added.
In the 15th General Election, Anwar won the Tambun parliamentary seat with a majority of 3,736 votes. He secured 49,625 votes, defeating Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu of Perikatan Nasional.
Mohamad Hairul also said that the party remained peaceful and harmonious despite recent political developments and resignations involving several party members.
He said the state leadership remained stable and united, unlike the turmoil seen in several other states following factional disputes.
He said Perak Pakatan Harapan and the unity government continued to function harmoniously, adding that there were no signs of instability or major internal conflict within the state chapter.
"We are still working well within the unity government. What happened in the southern states is not happening here," he said.
On speculation surrounding internal tensions after the resignation of the PKR Tanjung Malim branch Youth chief Muhammad Haziq Azfar Ishak, he played down the issue. He said it had no impact on the party’s structure in Perak.
"Only a handful of committee members in Tanjung Malim stepped down, and most are still with the branch," he said.
He also dismissed speculation that more members aligned to certain factions within the party would leave to join a newly formed political party.
"At present, no senior leaders or division chiefs are involved, and the number affected is very small compared to our overall membership of more than 100,000 in Perak," he said.
