Kuala Kubu Baharu By-Election: Fahmi Denies PKR’s Alleged Failure to Assist Unity Government Candidate’s Campaign

HULU SELANGOR: PKR Communications Director Fahmi Fadzil refuted claims by some quarters that the party did not actively participate in assisting Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Pang Sock Tao’s campaign in the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election.

He, who is also PH Communication Director, stated that, on the contrary, PKR Vice President and Selangor Chief Minister Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari was among the leaders who frequently campaigned to assist the candidate in KKB.

“The allegation is far from reality; in fact, I understand (Amirudin) held the Selangor State Government’s Weekly Meeting here in KKB, and I am also here,” he told reporters after the Pre-Launch Event of the Network and Infrastructure Partnership Framework held here today.

Regarding the involvement of several opposition leaders in Pang’s campaign, representing the Unity Government, Fahmi, who is also the Communications Minister, said it was their voluntary action.

“I see, for example, Selat Klang Assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari; he is quite proactive, and I believe he offered himself to be involved; he has campaigned with PH for two or three nights; and Tanjong Karang Member of Parliament (Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi) also campaigned (so I think); this is their right,” he said.

On March 6, Abdul Rashid, who is also the former Chairman of Bersatu Selangor, declared his support for Amirudin’s leadership, while Zulkafperi, also from Bersatu, announced his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership in January.

Meanwhile, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s (PBB) Women’s Deputy Chief Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri stated that her presence in KKB is evidence of Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) support for the Unity Government candidate in the by-election.

“GPS rarely talks politics, but with our presence, we show solid support for the Unity Government… It’s normal in politics; we don’t need to be sensitive, and we need to be wise. I don’t need to argue with PN (Perikatan Nasional in this case),” she said.

Previously, the media reported that PN questioned the absence of Unity Government leaders, including from GPS, in assisting PH’s candidate campaign.

The KKB by-election, which saw a four-cornered contest involving Pang, Khairul Azhari Saut (PN), Hafizah Zainuddin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia), and Nyau Ke Xin (Independent), was held following the demise of its incumbent Lee Kee Hiong, 58, due to cancer on March 21.

The Election Commission has set Saturday as the polling day for the KKB by-election.