Tambun in Anwar's top 3 GE15 picks, Perak Harapan wants announcement
Pakatan Harapan chief Anwar Ibrahim has narrowed down his choices of where to contest in the 15th general election (GE15) to Tambun and two other Klang Valley seats, according to coalition sources.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Perak Harapan sources said Anwar is seriously considering contesting in Tambun, although a final decision has not been made as of last night.
“It is not confirmed yet because Anwar himself has not said anything,” one source said.
However, Perak Harapan is pushing for him to make an announcement soon.
“We are pushing him to make the announcement (to contest in Tambun) at the Harapan convention in Ipoh this Thursday.
“That would be the perfect platform for him to make the announcement,” said a source.
Another source said “it is highly possible” that the PKR president will put his name on the ballot in Tambun.
The sources declined to say which two Klang Valley seats are also being considered.
Speculation is rife that Gombak is on the list, although Selangor Harapan chief Amirudin Shari has said that a new face would contest the seat currently held by Anwar’s former deputy Azmin Ali.
The Tambun seat used to be a BN stronghold but was captured by Bersatu’s Ahmad Faizal Azumu in 2018 when the party was with Harapan.
Incumbent Tambun MP Ahmad Faizal Azumu
In 2013, BN won the seat with 42,093 (56.2 percent) of the votes cast, while PKR received 32,768 (43.8 percent) of the votes.
In 2018, there were an extra 12,089 ballots cast in Tambun but BN’s votes dropped to 33,341 (38.3 percent) while PAS, which was allied with PKR in 2013 but had fallen out with the opposition since, received 14,948 votes (17.2 percent).
In comparison, Bersatu, as part of Harapan, bagged 38,661 votes (44.5 percent).
This suggests that those who voted for the opposition in 2013 split almost equally between Harapan and PAS - while BN may have lost over 8,000 votes to Bersatu amid a wave of dissent against the Najib Abdul Razak administration.
In addition to the swing votes from Umno, the voting data also indicates that Harapan and Bersatu swept up most of the new votes in the constituency.
New voters key to victory
In this year’s election, it is not clear how many voters will return to BN or how many votes Bersatu will bring with it for its Perikatan Nasional coalition with PAS.
However, with an influx of new voters, thanks to Undi18 and automatic voter registration, Harapan does have a fighting chance at winning Tambun if it can appeal to new voters as it did in 2018.
Perak Harapan has called the state the coalition’s frontline in GE15, suggesting a major push to recapture and strengthen its hold on Perak.
Harapan and its predecessor Pakatan Rakyat had won Perak twice - in 2018 and 2008 - but both state governments were toppled by defections.
Fielding Anwar in Perak could be a major boost for Harapan in the state.
DAP is also making a bold gambit and is expected to field former youth chief Howard Lee in Gerik, a rural Malay-majority seat.
In 2013, BN won the seat with 42,093 (56.2 percent) of the votes cast, while PKR received 32,768 (43.8 percent) of the votes.
In 2018, there were an extra 12,089 ballots cast in Tambun but BN’s votes dropped to 33,341 (38.3 percent) while PAS, which was allied with PKR in 2013 but had fallen out with the opposition since, received 14,948 votes (17.2 percent).
In comparison, Bersatu, as part of Harapan, bagged 38,661 votes (44.5 percent).
This suggests that those who voted for the opposition in 2013 split almost equally between Harapan and PAS - while BN may have lost over 8,000 votes to Bersatu amid a wave of dissent against the Najib Abdul Razak administration.
In addition to the swing votes from Umno, the voting data also indicates that Harapan and Bersatu swept up most of the new votes in the constituency.
New voters key to victory
In this year’s election, it is not clear how many voters will return to BN or how many votes Bersatu will bring with it for its Perikatan Nasional coalition with PAS.
However, with an influx of new voters, thanks to Undi18 and automatic voter registration, Harapan does have a fighting chance at winning Tambun if it can appeal to new voters as it did in 2018.
Perak Harapan has called the state the coalition’s frontline in GE15, suggesting a major push to recapture and strengthen its hold on Perak.
Harapan and its predecessor Pakatan Rakyat had won Perak twice - in 2018 and 2008 - but both state governments were toppled by defections.
Fielding Anwar in Perak could be a major boost for Harapan in the state.
DAP is also making a bold gambit and is expected to field former youth chief Howard Lee in Gerik, a rural Malay-majority seat.
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