GEORGE TOWN, Jan 28 — The Kajang and Permatang Pauh constituents have become pawns in Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s political ambitions, two Penang state Barisan Nasional leaders said today.
Penang Umno Liaison chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman and state Gerakan chief Teng Chang Yeow both slammed Anwar’s bid for the Selangor state assembly seat of Kajang in the wake of the unexpected resignation of the assemblyman for the area, Lee Chin Cheh.
Anwar, the member of parliament for Permatang Pauh in Penang state, said today he will contest the by-election triggered by Lee’s resignation, sparking rumours that he may eventually mount a challenge to replace current to Selangor chief minister, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
“How is Anwar going to take care of both Permatang Pauh and Kajang if he won the Kajang seat?” Zainal said.
“It would seem like the democratic process has been abused for PKR’s own political plans,” Zainal said at a press conference today.
In 2008, Anwar won the by-election for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat which became vacant when his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim, resigned.
Penang Gerakan chief Teng Chang Yeow said Lee’s resignation signalled that Parti Keadilan Rakyat in Selangor is facing a political crisis.
“It’s an abuse of the process of democracy to resolve an internal power struggle of PKR and Pakatan Rakyat,” he said in a statement.
“The rakyat had given PKR and Pakatan Rakyat the mandate barely six months ago and now, they are forced to decide again,” he said, echoing Zainal’s remarks that voters are being used to resolve internal power struggles.
