“THERE’S never a dull day in politics” – the popular saying certainly rang true last night after a slew of political developments and election decisions were announced, rattling even the most hardened journalist.
From a supposed party president being suspended by its president to prominent incumbent MPs being dropped, FocusM summarises everything that took place last night:
PBM power tussle continues
Datuk Larry Sng Wei Shien, who claims to be the rightful president of Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), has suspended a number of supreme council members from the party, including Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin and her allies.
In a statement last night, Sng said Zuraida, who the PBM Supreme Council recently agreed to elect as PBM president, was also sacked as an ordinary member of PBM.
“This (the suspensions are) in relation to their ongoing involvement in undermining the interest of the party and its leadership,” he said.
He added: “I strongly despise and condemn such political manoeuvring which has undermined the trust of my leadership and caused much confusion to party members and the general public at large.
“As such, their positions will be suspended until a disciplinary committee is set up to look into the matter after the election.”
Other high-profile names who were suspended – a power that the PBM constitution provides its president – include PBM deputy president Haniza Mohamed Talha, Women’s chief Dr Daroyah Alwi and Youth chief Na’im Brundage.
On Thursday (Oct 27), Sng suspended PBM secretary-general Nor Hizwan Ahmad and PBM information chief Zakaria Abdul Hamid for the same reasons; both are allies of Zuraida, who is also the caretaker plantation industries and commodities minister.
In view of the urgency of the matter, Sng, the incumbent Julau MP, said a supreme council meeting will be convened tomorrow (Oct 30) in Sarikei, Sarawak, to discuss and settle the issue immediately.
“I shall be exercising clause 21 (ii) of the party constitution to allow the meeting to be held less than the required seven days’ notice,” he said, adding: “Those who have been suspended will not be invited to attend the meeting.”
PKR drops prominent incumbent MPs, moves others
As expected, PKR has dropped several incumbent MPs from its 15th General Election (GE15) line-up.
These include prominent activist Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya), lawyer R. Sivarasa (Sungai Buloh), former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye (Gopeng) and Chan Ming Kai (Alor Setar).
The four have been replaced by PKR communications director Lee Chean Chung, deputy party information chief Datuk Ramanan Ramakrishnan, former Perak state exco member Tan Kar Hing and former Kedah state exco member Simon Ooi, respectively.
PKR vice-president Tian Chua, on the other hand, who was Batu MP from 2008 to 2018, has not been fielded in his former seat, with independent-turned-PKR member P. Prabakaran contesting in it once more on a PKR ticket.
PKR has also shuffled other leaders around:
- PKR adviser and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has been moved from her incumbent Pandan seat to Bandar Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur.
- Negeri Sembilan menteri besar and state PKR chief Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun will take on Port Dickson, which is currently held by party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar will be contesting in Tambun, Perak.
- Selangor menteri besar and state PKR chief Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shari will move to Gombak, which is currently held by his predecessor in the menteri besar’s office and former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, the main leader behind the Sheraton Move of 2020.
Prominent leaders from PKR who will seek re-election in their seats include:
- Dr Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam)
- Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang)
- Akmal Nasir (Johor Bahru)
- William Leong (Selayang)
- Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai)
- Wong Chen (Subang)
- Chang Lih Kang (Tanjong Malim)
- Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang Pauh)
- Sim Sze Tzin (Bayan Baru)
- Mohamad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau)
- Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Kulim Bandar Baharu)
- M. Karupaiya (Padang Serai)
- Noor Amin Ahmad (Kangar)
- Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan)
In addition to political big shots making a comeback (like PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli in Pandan and G. Manivannan in Hulu Langat), PKR also announced several new faces to take on parliamentary seats in GE15:
- PKR Youth chief and activist Adam Adli Abd Halim will contest in Hang Tuah Jaya, Melaka, while the seat’s incumbent, former deputy minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, will take on UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Bagan Datuk, Perak.
- Disabled rights activist and academic Dr Noraishah Mydin Abdul, who joined the party just a few days ago, will contest in Putrajaya, currently held by former federal territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
Meanwhile, Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming will be contesting in Teluk Intan once more, the party’s national vice-chairman M. Kula Segaran will be fielded in Ipoh Barat and Wong Kah Woh will contest in Taiping. – Oct 29, 2022
