PERMATANG PAUH, May 4 — Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail may not understand the role of an MP if the Permatang Pauh election candidate is reliant on others to help run her constituencies, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said today.
Mukhriz said it was the sole responsibility of a federal lawmaker to maintain their own constituency and not to have other MPs assist them, after Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali reportedly said that they would take care of Dr Wan Azizah’s Permatang Pauh and Kajang seats respectively should she win the Permatang Pauh by-election.
“I’m perplexed about that too because usually a Member of Parliament will be responsible for her own area, she can’t be depending on other people,” Mukhriz said during a press conference at a Barisan Nasional campaign luncheon in Tanah Liat here.
“So that, to me, proves that they don’t really understand the responsibility and role of a Member of Parliament,” he added.
He added that the people of Permatang Pauh should instead get an MP who can adequately represent them and their interests in Parliament.
“A representative in a parliamentary seat is a heavy responsibility. They have to look after the people and speak up for them in Parliament,
“That’s why when you want to choose your representative here... most important thing is who among those contesting can defend your rights,” he said.
Mukhriz also suggested that the constituency has missed out on the development enjoyed by the rest of the country because of its “misstep” in spending 17 years under PKR.
Azmin and Lim offered to look after Dr Wan Azizah’s constituencies after several BN lawmakers said she will not be able to serve Permatang Pauh should she win the federal seat come polling day on May 7, as she is already Kajang assemblyman.
Malay Mail Online also reported last Wednesday that Kajang residents were griping over Dr Wan Azizah’s alleged absence from the constituency and failure to fulfil the promises made while campaigning, with one resident calling her a “sleeping YB.”
The Permatang Pauh seat was vacated after PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to five years in jail earlier this year for sodomising a former aide.
Dr Wan Azizah faces three opponents in this electoral contest — BN’s Suhaimi Sabudin, PRM’s Azman Shah Othman and independent Salleh Isahak.
