KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — Umno Youth executive council member Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris has offered to stand in the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to stop an alleged plot to “politically assassinate” Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He claimed that the by-election was engineered by PKR in such a manner that it will see the party’s in-coming president going against former Negri Sembilan mentri besar Mohamad, who he said is the favourite to contest under Barisan Nasional (BN).
“There is no doubt that Anwar will win in Port Dickson as the sentiments showed he stands a very good chance of winning there.
“However, many do not know that it is also a plot, believed to be engineered by PKR’s Rafizi Ramli, to kill off Mohamad, his political career and also Umno,” Wan Muhammad Azri told Malay Mail when contacted today.
The 35-year-old former policeman, who vacillates between his Papagomo and “Sir Azri” online personas, said he decided to contest after learning of the plot, similar to the Kajang Move, which he described as sinister.
“Umno members and the public know how popular Mohamad is as a party leader. I decided to offer myself to contest the by-election under Umno to protect Mohamad as a dynamic leader and also for the party’s interests.
“I have nothing to lose and I challenge Anwar face-to-face in the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election as it is my belief that the younger generation must take up the challenge to uphold what is right,” he said.
Wan Muhammad Azri said that if he is given the chance by Umno’s leadership to contest the by-election, it will be meaningful to him as Anwar has constantly been his political target in his previous controversial blogs.
“In fact, it was Anwar who triggered my political awareness and finally got me involved in politics.
“Frankly, I don’t have a chance of winning in Port Dickson, but at least, it’s my effort to try and stop him from being an MP,” he said.
Earlier today, Wan Muhammad Azri confirmed that he had submitted his name to Mohamad, who is also BN deputy chairman, to contest the by-election.
However, he is still awaiting his approval from the Negri Sembilan Umno Liaison Committee as well as the state and Port Dickson BN.
PKR’s Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah announced his resignation as Port Dickson MP yesterday to force a by-election that will pave the way for Anwar to return to Parliament.
Anwar, who is PKR president-elect, is seeking to cement his progression as the next prime minister after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad through the democratic process.
