KAJANG: The New Generation Party (New Gen) today announced that it would pull out of the Kajang by-election race to leave the field open to ‘a head to head’ between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional.
“The New Gen Party has decided not to contest in the Kajang by-election even though we have finalised a candidate.
“We have decided to give our fullest support to PKR candidate, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail,” said party secretary general S Gobikrishnan.
The decision to pull out of the Kajang by-election was made as a result of the Court of Appeal decision on Friday to overturn Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy acquittal.
The Court of Appeal also sentenced Anwar to five years jail but allowed a stay of sentencing on a bail of RM10,000.
The judgment disqualifies Anwar from contesting in the Kajang by-election and resulted in Anwar naming his wife, Dr Wan Azizah as the new candidate.
“The court decision does not serve the best interest of justice,” said Gobikrishnan.
Yesterday former PKR leader Zaid Ibrahim also pulled out of the race stating that as Khalid Ibrahim’s position as Selangor Menteri Besar was now ‘secure’ and no longer threatened by Anwar who is believed to have been eyeing the coveted position, it was no longer necessary for him to contest.
The Kajang state seat fell vacant following the resignation of incumbent assemblymen Lee Chin Cheh of PKR on Jan 27. The Election Commission fixed March 23 as polling date and nomination day on March 11. Early polling would be held on March 19.
The state seat comprises 39,728 registered voters. At the last general election in May 2013, the seat saw a voter turnout of 87.9% with 541 spoilt votes.
MCA is pitting its vice president, Chew Mei Fun to contest on behalf of BN.
Dangdut singer Herman Tino who had initially shown interest to contest in the by-election has also reportedly pulled out of the race.
With the latest development it looks like the battle in the Kajang by-election will be between PKR and MCA.
