Wan Azizah to contest Pandan seat, Azmin to defend Gombak in S'gor

KUALA SELANGOR: PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will contest in the Pandan parliamentary seat while caretaker Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali will defend his Gombak parliamentary and Bukit Antarabangsa state seats.
The announcement was made through a party statement, which also named all of its parliamentary and state candidates nationwide, just hours after Wan Azizah declined to confirm her candidacy.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) deputy prime minister candidate had, during the Jelajah Harapan Selangor programme late last night, announced the full list of PKR's Selangor candidates but kept mum on the Pandan seat.
When met by reporters later, Wan Azizah had said that the decision not to announce the Pandan candidate was in respect of incumbent MP Rafizi Ramli, who is set not to contest in the elections amid an ongoing court case.
"I was thinking of Rafizi. It's not easy (to announce), because I think the law has not been kind to him," she said.
Rafizi had won the Pandan seat in 2013 with a majority of over 26,000 votes over Barisan Nasional's (BN) Lim Chin Yee.
However, the statement confirmed her candidacy, with her daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar to replace her as the candidate for Permatang Pauh and PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil to take on Izzah's Lembah Pantai seat.
Wan Azizah, when revealing the Selangor candidates at the Kuala Selangor stadium, also announced political newcomer, former Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah as candidate for the Petaling Jaya seat, formerly known as Petaling Jaya Selatan.
The candidates announcement came amidst a last minute internal wrangling, with rumours that up to eight names suggested by Mohamed Azmin would be dropped, including incumbent Batu and Wangsa Maju MPs, Tian Chua and Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong.
However, three of the eight names were picked, including Tian Chua, who will defend his Batu constituency, with Hanizah Mohd Talha to contest in the Taman Medan state seat and Hilman Idham in Gombak Setia.
"Some will be picked, while others will not. But never forget the sacrifices made by many others, bringing us to where we are today. Maybe some will take this to heart, but we want victory above all," Wan Azizah had said before announcing the names.
Also present were PH chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, wife Tun Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, PH deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and coalition vice-president Mohamed Azmin.
Meanwhile, others who will be defending their Selangor parliamentary seats are Wong Chen (Subang - formerly Kelana Jaya), William Leong (Selayang), Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang), and Sivarasa Rasiah (Sungai Buloh - formerly Subang).
Incumbent Kuala Langat MP Datuk Abdullah Sani will contest in Kapar replacing G. Manivannan, Seri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jayakumar will take on the vacant Kuala Langat seat, while Leow Hsiad Hui the Hulu Selangor seat.
Elsewhere, PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will contest the Pantai Jerejak state seat in Penang, while party vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Md. Akin will defend his Hang Tuah Jaya (formerly Bukit Katil) parliamentary seat and Machap Jaya state seat.
PKR strategic planning director Sim Tze Tzin will defend Bayan Baru, where else PH chief secretary Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah will contest the Indera Mahkota seat in Pahang.