Streram Says No Problem If Pkr Doesn T Pick Him For Rantau

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PETALING JAYA: PKR’s Dr Streram Sinnasamy says he is ready to support any candidate to take on Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan in the upcoming by-election in Rantau, as party leaders prepare strategies in the wake of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) defeat in Semenyih on Saturday
Rantau is a state seat in Negeri Sembilan, where Streram was disqualified from contesting by the Election Commission in the May polls last year
During nomination day on April 28 last year, Streram, his proposer and seconder were denied entry to the nomination centre
Streram, who succeeded in getting the court to nullify the election result for Rantau, said it was up to his party leadership to decide who would represent PH
“I am ready to contest but the party is also studying the best option to take on Barisan Nasional (BN) under the present circumstances,” he told FMT
He said he would also support any other candidate nominated to ensure the ruling coalition secured the seat from the opposition
“I have been serving the people in that constituency for the last three years but I will abide by the decision of the party leadership,” said Streram, who is also PH coordinator for the constituency
PKR will meet next week to decide on the candidate to contest in Rantau
Incumbent Mohamad, who is the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, has indicated his readiness to re-contest the seat
Last month, the Federal Court affirmed the Election Court’s decision to nullify the election result of Mohamad as Rantau assemblyman
Rantau, with 20,472 voters, is a mixed constituency with Malays making up 52%, Indians 28% and Chinese 20%
Streram told FMT that the composition would mean that a candidate “must have the support of all races to win”
He said he was aware of the present sentiments after PH’s two by-election defeats, in Cameron Highlands and Semenyih
On Saturday, BN wrested the Semenyih state seat after its candidate, Zakaria Hanafi, defeated PH’s Muhammad Aiman Zainali and two others with a majority of 1,914 votes
On Jan 26, BN retained the Cameron Highlands seat by a majority of 3,238 votes, sending its candidate Ramli Mohd Nor to become the first Orang Asli MP. - FMT

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