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Free Malaysia Today
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Analyst questions Saifuddin's appointment as PKR's election co-director
PKR's newly appointed election directors, Nurul Izzah Anwar and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, both lost their parliamentary seats in GE15. PETALING JAYA : An analyst has questioned Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's appointment as PKR's election director alongside Nurul Izzah Anwar, particularly given his election defeat and lack of a central party post. Although Nurul Izzah also lost her parliamentary seat in the 2022 general election (GE15), Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said her appointment was understandable since she was the party's deputy president. 'But Saifuddin's appointment is a big mystery. I'm sure PKR has a better candidate than Saifuddin from among its elected representatives to work alongside Nurul Izzah,' he told FMT. At GE15, Saifuddin lost his Kulim-Bandar Baharu seat which he had held since 2018 to Perikatan Nasional's Roslan Hashim by a whopping 13,061 votes. He was the PKR secretary-general at the time. Nurul Izzah also failed to defend her Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, which had been held by either her, her father or mother since 1982. The then PKR vice-president lost to PAS's Fawwaz Jan, who won with a majority of 5,272 votes. On Saturday, PKR announced the appointment of Nurul Izzah and Saifuddin as its election directors, marking the second time that the pair would work together in this area. Saifuddin was also appointed to PKR's political bureau. Fauzi did not rule out the possibility that Saifuddin's appointment was aimed at complementing Nurul Izzah, saying the home minister was perceived as the 'commander' in the partnership. Syahruddin Awang Ahmad of Universiti Malaysia Sabah agreed, saying PKR might be seeking to leverage Saifuddin's skills in strategic planning. He said it was still a risky move on the part of PKR, citing Saifuddin's GE15 defeat and weak position at the grassroots level, adding however that he and Nurul Izzah could still complement each other. 'Nurul Izzah could make up for Saifuddin's weaknesses in terms of her grassroots popularity, whereas Saifuddin could contribute to the partnership through his strategy and connections,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
29-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Bung as ‘poster boy' unwise with graft case proceeding, says analyst
BN's Bung Moktar Radin and GRS's Hajiji Noor are the two leading candidates for the post of chief minister if a BN-PH-GRS alliance materialises. PETALING JAYA : It would be unwise for the Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Harapan alliance to name Bung Moktar Radin as their 'poster boy' for the coming state polls with a corruption case still hanging over the state BN chief's head, says an analyst. Universiti Sains Malaysia's Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said BN-PH cannot afford to put Bung forward as the candidate for chief minister as his court case makes him a 'liability'. Last week, Bung and his wife, Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, failed in their application for a review of a Court of Appeal ruling ordering that they enter their defence on graft and abetment charges over a RM150 million Felcra investment. Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid. Fauzi said BN-PH needs to be led by a person whom the public perceives as free from corruption, and one whose reputation goes beyond ethnic and religious lines. He suggested that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Hajiji Noor is best suited for the role if BN-PH can seal an electoral pact with the state-based coalition. 'He's acceptable to PH and, while a compromise, is a figure who's able to soothe tensions between the two Umno camps led by Bung and (Sabah Umno deputy chief) Abdul Rahman Dahlan,' he told FMT. 'They need a figure whose reputation transcends Sabahans of all ethno-religious persuasions and can unite Muslim and indigenous non-Muslim communities, especially. ' Some within Sabah Umno are touting the name of Salleh Said Keruak, a former chief minister, again.' That said, Fauzi acknowledged the strength of Bung's relations with Sabahans on the ground, especially rural voters. He said this may outweigh the liability brought on by his corruption case. Bung and his wife were ordered to enter their defence last November in connection with the receipt of RM2.8 million in bribes to secure Felcra's approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts. Bung was non-executive chairman of Felcra at the time the alleged offences were committed. The couple is scheduled to begin their defence to the charges in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court on Aug 18. Earlier this month, Sabah Umno proposed that Bung be made BN's poster boy for the polls. BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, however, dismissed the proposal saying it was not the right time to determine the candidate. Awang Azman Pawi. Universiti Malaya's Awang Azman Pawi said BN-PH should put to rest all talk about whose image should adorn its campaign paraphernalia. 'It's pointless to endlessly debate about the chief ministerial candidate only to end up losing the polls. Their focus should be on winning as many seats as they can,' he said. Nonetheless, Awang Azman said it would be unfair to consider Bung as unsuitable for the honour since he has yet to be convicted by the court. 'Bung's strength lies in the grassroots. He is among the handful of Sabah Umno leaders who still command their own influence, especially in rural areas and among the party's machinery. 'Sabahans also largely aren't influenced by perceptions from mainstream media or social media. Sabah politics is very local in nature, heavily dependent on personal relations, field work and long-established grassroots support, which Bung has.'
