Anwar to contest in Nibong Tebal...

Several grassroots leaders have proposed to the party leadership to field Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in the Nibong Tebal parliamentary constituency in the next general election.

In a move to strengthen PKR position in Penang, they want Anwar to seriously consider shifting from his traditional Permatang Pauh to the southern seat bordering Perak.

Nibong Tebal PKR divisional leaders are said to have “invited” Anwar to contest the parliamentary seat.

Permatang Pauh is widely considered as a safe PKR bastion.

Party grassroots members said if Anwar were to contest Nibong Tebal it would not damage PKR’s prospects in Permatang Pauh, which comprises the state seats of Penanti, Permatang Pasir and Seberang Jaya.

With Pakatan Rakyat going for Putrajaya, party insiders said it was important for PKR to field strong personalities to contest hot seats, and Nibong Tebal is considered as one.

“We need a strong candidate to contest Nibong Tebal… Anwar could be the right man,” a PKR source said.

Sources said Anwar has been discussing and listening to various views on the possible move.

“Anwar has not rejected the idea… it could be a last-minute decision,” an insider said.

Nibong Tebal is considered a semi-urban mixed constituency comprising the state seats of Sungai Acheh, Sungai Bakap and Jawi.

In 2008, the seat had 47,540 registered voters with ethnic Malays making up 43.6%, Chinese 40.5%, Indians 15.9% and others 0.1%.

Anwar factor

Party insiders believe Anwar’s move to Nibong Tebal would boost the party’s chances to regain the seat, retain Sungai Bakap and win Sungai Acheh.

They also expect the Anwar factor to boost DAP’s chances to retain the Jawi seat, which is being much coveted by MCA.

Ironically, if Anwar were to contest Nibong Tebal, he is returning to his birthplace, Sungai Bakap.

If the speculations were true, Penangites can expect an interesting “Battle of Nibong Tebal” between the PKR supremo and Umno state chief Zainal Abidin Osman.

Umno is expected to again field Zainal Abidin, who lost the same seat to then PKR’s Tan Tee Beng in the 2008 general election.

Tan, who polled 20,210 votes to defeat Zainal, who garnered 17,123 votes, has since defected to become a Barisan Nasional-friendly independent MP.

PKR grassroots leaders felt Tan’s defection could have some negative effect on Nibong Tebal constituents.

But they believe Anwar’s candidacy can neutralise such sentiments.

Sungai Bakap assemblyman is PKR’s Maktar Shapee while DAP’s Tan Beng Huat is Jawi incumbent representative.

Maintaining the status quo

Umno’s Mahmud Zakaria managed to win Sungai Acheh in 2008 with a slim 250 vote-margin win over PKR’s Azhar Ahmad.

Pakatan has already decided to maintain the status quo on seat arrangement in Penang, with the ruling DAP contesting seven federal and 19 state seats, PKR four and 16 and PAS two and five, respectively.

Besides Permatang Pauh and Nibong Tebal on mainland Seberang Perai, PKR will contest Bayan Baru and Balik Pulau federal seats on the island.

Besides Sungai Acheh and Sungai Bakap, PKR will contest the state seats of Machang Bubok (Bukit Mertajam); Bukit Tengah and Bukit Tambun (Batu Kawan); Penanti and Seberang Jaya (Permatang Pauh); Teluk Air Tawar (Tasek Gelugor); Bertam and Pinang Tunggal (Kepala Batas) on the mainland.

On the island, the party will field candidates in Kebun Bunga (Bukit Bendera); Batu Uban, Pantai Jerejak and Batu Maung (Bayan Baru); Teluk Bahang and Pulau Betong (Balik Pulau).

PKR has already shortlisted candidates for its four federal and 16 state seats and a source said almost 90% of the candidates have been finalised.

Most incumbents are expected to be retained. But some changes, like shifting constituency, could happen.

For instance, Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin may move to contest the Bayan Baru federal seat to allow the PKR divisional deputy chairman Mohd Rashid Hasnon to contest the state seat.

PKR’s then state chairman Zahrain Md Hashim won Bayan Baru in 2008, only to defect two years later to become a BN-friendly independent MP.-FMT

Anwar bertanding di Nibong Tebal...

Beberapa pemimpin bawahan PKR mahu Anwar Ibrahim bertanding di kerusi Parlimen Nibong Tebal dalam PRU 13 ini. Pemimpin2 PKR Nibong Tebal dikatakan telah menjemput Anwar untuk untuk bertanding di Nibong Tebal.

Langkah ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengukuhkan lagi kedudukan PKR di Pulau Pinang. Mereka mahu Anwar meninggalkan kawasan selamatnya,Permatang Pauh dan bertanding di Nibong Tebal.


Ahli2 'grassroots' PKR ini berpendapat perpindahan Anwar ke Nibong Tebal tidak akan menjejaskan Permatang Pauh, yang meliputi kawasan DUN Penanti, Permatang Pasir dan Seberang Jaya kerana Permatang Pauh sememangnya kubu kuat PKR.

Menurut pemimpin2 PR lain,adalah penting bagi PKR meletakkan seorang calon yang berwibawa bagi mempertahankan kerusi 'hangat' Nibong Tebal ini, yang dulunya dimenangi oleh PKR tapi kini  YBnya telah melompat menjadi ahli bebas.

"Kita mahu seorang calon yang kuat dan berwibawa sebagai calon di Nibong Tebal dan Anwar adalah orangnya",mengikut satu sumber PKR.

Mengikut sumber itu lagi Anwar sedang berbincang akan kemungkinan ini dan sedang memikirkan sebarang kemungkinan untuk berbuat demikian. Anwar juga tidak menolak kemungkinan itu.


Nibong Tebal adalah kawasan separa bandar dan pada 2008  bilangan pengundinya seramai 47,540, terdiri daripada Melayu 44.6%,Cina,India 15.9% dan lain2 0.1%.

Nibong Tebal meliputi kerusi2 DUN Sungai Acheh, Sungai Bakap and Jawi.


Faktor Anwar

Mereka yakin dengan adanya Anwar sebagai calon akan menguatkan lagi peluang PKR memenangi kerusi Nibong Tebal dan terus mengekalkan kerusi2 DUNnya iaitu Sungai Bakap and Sungai Acheh.

Fator Anwar juga akan menguatkan lagi keyakinan DAP mengekalkan kerusi Jawi yang diidam2kan oleh MCA itu.

Secara kebetulan, Sungai Bakap adalah tempat lahir Anwar.

Jika ramalan ini benar,pengundi2 Pulau Pinang bakal saksikan  satu pertembungan “Battle of Nibong Tebal” antara Ketua Umum PKR dengan Ketua UMNO negeri Zainal Abidin Osman(kiri).
 
UMNO dijangka meletakkan Zainal Abidin, yang tewas kepada calon PKR Tan Tee Beng dalam PRU 2008 lalu. Tan, memperolehi 20,210 undi mengalahkan Zainal, yang mendapat 17,123 undi.

Kekalkan Status Quo

Pakatan telah bersetuju untuk kekalkan status quo berhubung dengan pembahagian kerusi di Penang,DAP akan bertanding di tujuh kerusi Parlimen dan 19 kerusi DUN, PKR empat kerusi Parlimen,16 kerusi DUN dan PAS dua kerusi Parlimen dan lima kerusi DUN.

Selain daripada Permatang Pauh dan Nibong Tebal di Seberang Perai, PKR juga akan meletakan calon2nya di kerusi Parlimen  Bayan Baru dan Balik Pulau.

Selain daripada Sungai Acheh dan Sungai Bakap, PKR akan bertanding di kerusi DUN Machang Bubok (Bukit Mertajam); Bukit Tengah dan Bukit Tambun (Batu Kawan); Penanti dan Seberang Jaya (Permatang Pauh); Teluk Air Tawar (Tasek Gelugor); Bertam dan Pinang Tunggal (Kepala Batas,Kebun Bunga (Bukit Bendera); Batu Uban, Pantai Jerejak and Batu Maung (Bayan Baru); Teluk Bahang and Pulau Betong (Balik Pulau).


Hampir semua penyandang bakal dikekalkan. Namun sedikit perubahan mungkin dibuat.

Umpamanya, ahli DUN Pantai Jerejak,Sim Tze Tzin mungkin akan bertanding di kerusi Parlimen Bayan Baru dan tempatnya bakal diberi kepada timbalan pengerusi PKR bahagian tersebut,Mohd Rashid Hasnon.

Breaking News...

Wee Ka Siong settles Anwar defamation suit

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has agreed to a settlement over his defamation suit against MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong at the Kuala Lumpur High Court has today.

Anwar’s lawyer J Leela said an out of court settlement has been reached but details remain confidential.

"Terms and settlement condition remain confidential. There is no order (yet) as to costs," she told reporters.

"Following this we apply that the trial dates set in September to be vacated."

Ben Chan represented Wee in the RM10 million defamation suit.

On April 18, 2008, Anwar filed the suit claiming that Wee had uttered defamatory words during the latter’s campaign at a ceramah in the Machap by-election of 2007.-malaysiakini







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