ELECTION 2008: Anwar’s daughter takes on Shahrizat, Lingam videoclip maker fielded in Kelana Jaya
By : M. K. Megan & V. Anbalagan
Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will contest the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat in a bold bid to unseat BN stalwart and deputy Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil.
Interestingly, PKR will also field Loh Gwo Burne, the man who shot to fame by filming the alleged Lingam video clip, in the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat. Gwo Burne will take on MCA’s Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.
“Gwo is a professional and possess a masters degree and experiences in business and law and when he wanted to contest there was excitement in Kelana Jaya,” said PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali as he announced the party’s candidates list.
Syed Husin said Anwar and his wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan ismail did not want Nurul Izzah to contest but relented after much persistence from the grassroots.
Another name to look out for is Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud who will contest the Pandan parliamentary constituency.
PKR’s election director Mohamed Azmin Ali will be contesting the Gombak parliamentary constituency.
In another surprising move, Malaysian Democratic Party secretary-general Wee Choo Keong will contest the March 8 polls under a PKR ticket at the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat, pitting against long time MCA rival Datuk Dr Lee Choon Meng.
Wee’s inclusion was to avoid a three-cornered fight in the Bukit Bintang parliamentary seat. Known for his critical views of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it was a surprise yesterday when PKR picked the former DAP MP, now leader of the Malaysian Democratic Party, a DAP splinter party.
“In the name of unity and to avoid a three-cornered fight in Bukit Bintang, we came to a compromise that Wee contest in Wangsa Maju under the PKR ticket,” Syed Husin said.
Wee is the second candidate from another party contesting a PKR ticket. The other is Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s Dr Michael Jeyakumar, who will challenge MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu in Sungai Siput.
PKR election director Azmin Ali at the party’s headquarters. Azmin will contest the Gombak parliamentary seat.
Meanwhile, Gwo Burne’s father, Loh Mui Fah, who was also a witness in the recently concluded Lingam video clip inquiry, will vie for a parliamentary seat in the Klang Valley.
“The seat that I will contest will be finalised by tomorrow but it will definitely be under the DAP or PKR ticket,” said the 58-year-old businessman.
Loh and his son are not members of any political party prior to their decision to offer themselves as candidates.
Mui Fah said he and Gwo Burne decided to contest following calls from opposition leaders over the past one week.
“We did not plan earlier nor use the publicity generated from the inquiry to contest,” he said.
Gwo Burne, 34, a consultant, said he was to have left for China soon after Chinese New Year celebrations but could not resist the call to offer himself in the electoral battle.
“I am offering myself to the voters as a choice. It is for them to decide,” he said.
The father and son said their campaign would touch on corruption, the current state of the judiciary, lack of Ministerial responsibility , urban poverty, the rising cost of living and crime rate.
