KOTA KINABALU: PKR dropped a bombshell Wednesday evening when one of its loyalists, Ansari Abdullah was not in its list of candidates either for Parliament or State.
The list was released in Petaling Jaya by PKR deputy president, Mohamed Azmin Ali, who also disclosed that the PKR-APS-PPS partnership would be contesting 43 State seats and 19 Parliamentary seats.
Lawyer Ansari, the Tuaran PKR division chief had named himself and six other candidates earlier this month, saying the seven would be the PKR candidates from the North West Zone.
He had then included Anthony Mandiau (Kota Marudu), Dr Chong Eng Leong (Sepangar), Mazhry Nasir (Putatan), Mursalim Tanjul (Kudat), Saidil Semoi (Kota Belud) and Jonathan Yassin, the division chief for PKR Ranau.
Only Anthony and Jonathan survived; Anthony was named for the state seat of Tandek while Jonathan got his wish to contest Ranau.
There was no immediate reaction from Ansari (picture), but a PKR leader close to him said Ansari was aware that he was not going to be a PKR candidate this time around.
Ansari had lost the Tuaran seat to Datuk Wilfred Bumburing in 2008 (who was then on a BN-UPKO ticket) but this time around, Bumburing is with PKR via his Angkatan Perpaduan Sabah (APS).
“Ansari is very sore at the moment, and he is planning his next moves. For now he is keeping them close to his chest, but do not rule out the possibility that he would switch allegiance,” said the PKR official who got a State seat to contest.
Ansari is said to be close to both Azmin and de facto opposition leader, Datuk Anwar Ibrahim.
Bumburing will not only be defending Tuaran, where he is up against his friend-turned-foe, Madius Tangau, but will also contest his old State seat of Tamparuli, against PBS imcumbent, Datuk Jahid Jahim.
Two others are also on a dual mission – PPS chief, Datuk Lajim Ukin gets to defend Beaufort as expected, and will also try and wrest back his old State seat Klias, and Tan Sri Ibrahim Menudin who has been entrusted with Labuan and Bongawan.
Making an attempt at a comeback are two former deputy Ministers; Datuk Yahya Lampong who is slated for the Papar parliamentary seat comeback and Datuk Ahmad Shah Tambakau who vies for the Bingkor State seat.
Datuk Kong Hong Ming finally got his Tawau seat after the DAP made way for him.
PKR gets the lion’s share of the Pakatan Rakyat seats because the APS and PPS partnership candidates have opted to use the PKR symbol as they are not political parties.
Another PR partner, the DAP had earlier Wednesday announced that they would be contesting four Parliament seats and eight State seats.
The four Parliament seats are Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sepanggar and Putatan.
The eight State seats are Likas, Luyang, Kepayan, Melalap, Karamunting, Elopura, Tanjung Papat and Sri Tanjung.
The DAP held Kota Kinabalu and Sri Tanjung previously. Sri Tanjung incumbent and DAP Sabah leader, Jimmy Wong replaces Hiew King Chiu in Kota Kinabalu, while Hiew contests the Luyang seat.
Chan Fong Hin replaces Jimmy in Sri Tanjung.
It is understood that PAS will release the names of their candidates either Thursday or Friday to fill up the remaining seats.
They will contest two Parliament seats and nine State seats.
But it will be no easy ride for the PR as local opposition parties, SAPP and STAR/USNO are also fielding candidates in almost all the seats – making it a four-cornered fight at the very least in most, if not all the 85 Parliament and State constituencies.
By Alexander Chen
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