SEREMBAN, Sept 13 ― A Negri Sembilan branch leader dismissed today concerns that upset armed forces personnel and veterans might vote against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the coming Port Dickson by-election.

Telok Kemang PKR branch chief Chai Tong Chai said the military voters, including retired servicemen, were entitled to their personal views and allowed to speak whatever they wished, but added that there had been no grouses to date.

“Nobody said anything about ex-Port Dickson MP First Admiral (Rtd) Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah forcing to vacate his seat for Anwar.

“Danyal himself has already said he wanted to offer the vacancy while continuing to assist Anwar to move forward by providing his service to the people, so I do not think it would jeopardise his chance of being elected,” he told a press conference at the Royale Chulan Seremban here.

Chai was responding to a warning by the National Patriots Association of a “backlash” from voting servicemen in Port Dickson should Anwar contest the Parliamentary seat there.

Danyal won the seat in the 14th general election but announced at PKR’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya yesterday that he was giving it up to allow PKR president-elect Anwar to contest.

Meanwhile Chai also said the party branch has voiced their full support for Anwar to contest the seat in a by-election, presumably to be held in mid-October.

“We are fortunate that the next PM would be chosen from the state for the first time in history as our first Yang di-Pertuan Agong was also from Negri Sembilan.

“With Anwar’s presence here as a prime minister in waiting, we can look forward to more economic development in the tourism sector not just in Port Dickson but throughout Negri Sembilan,” he said.

Asked if the by-election will affect the upcoming party polls, Chai said yes but insisted it will not be severe.

“It cannot be denied that this would disrupt our party polls but the effect would be minor since this is only a by-election,” he said.

Chai also urged registered voters in the constituency to come out and vote en mass to support parliamentary and institutional reforms as the party was confident of clinching victory together with other Pakatan Harapan component parties.

This is the third time that a by-election has been intentionally triggered for Anwar to contest, including the Kajang Move that went awry.

Danyal won the seat by a majority of 17,710 in a three-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional and PAS in the May polls.