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Up to party, Azmin says on contesting Selangor polls

However, the former Selangor menteri besar says he would like a break from politics.

Azzman Abdul Jamal
2 minute read
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Selangor Perikatan Nasional chairman Mohamed Azmin Ali speaks to reporters at an open house event in Shah Alam, May 21.
Selangor Perikatan Nasional chairman Mohamed Azmin Ali speaks to reporters at an open house event in Shah Alam, May 21.

Selangor Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Mohamed Azmin Ali says he will contest the state election to come if directed to do so, adding however that he would prefer a break from politics. 

The former Selangor menteri besar said his decision was made six months ago, after the 15th general election (GE15), as he had represented the people since 1999. 

"This is quite a long period of time, and I believe PN now has young candidates with potential, who are able to carry out its policies and ideals," he told reporters at the PN Aidilfitri open house in Shah Alam last night. 

Azmin was first appointed as an assemblyman in 1999, serving in Hulu Kelang until 2004. 

He subsequently became the representative for Bukit Antarabangsa, a post he continued to hold after losing his parliamentary seat of Gombak at the Nov 19 polls. 

On his defeat to Amirudin Shari in the five-way contest, Azmin said the situation would not necessarily happen again. 

He said the situation at GE15 had been different as he had faced not just Amirudin but the entire machinery of Pakatan Harapan (PH) at the national level. 

Describing this as a plan to kill off his political career, he said he had come to terms with his loss.

He said those who had supported PH in Gombak had begun to complain about the failure of their leaders to carry out their tasks.

"It is as though the leaders at the bottom have become yes-men without principles and too afraid to say anything to those above," he said. 

"This has become a source of complaint." 

Azmin also said he was confident that a big shift would take place in Selangor at the election to come. 

He said the federal government had failed to resolve many of the issues faced by the people since coming to power. 

"The government talks a lot but has never explained its approach to solving these problems," he said.

"Under Muhyiddin Yassin and PN, during tough times we succeeded in taking care of the economy and speeding up the recovery process. 

"Many people in Selangor are well educated and from the middle-income group. They know what is happening, and we hope that they will give PN a chance."