KUALA LUMPUR: Trouble appears to be brewing within the opposition in Kedah, with talk of a revolt following speculation that Wan Saiful Wan Jan, is set to contest the Pendang parliamentary seat.
A source from the opposition pact said the grassrooots are in uproar over the expected nomination of Wan Saiful, who is the founding chief executive officer of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), given that the opposition in Pendang already have their own candidate, who had been actively involved in the election machinery.
The source said the opposition supporters have voiced their disagreement with the expected move to field Wan Saiful in Pendang.
“The candidate we chose has put in the hours here (Pendang) day and night to solve the problems faced by the locals. And now, Wan Saiful drops in.
“The people here don’t want him because he’s only showing his face here at the last minute.
“The president’s office needs to be sensitive about such matters. They have to take into account the aspirations, sentiments not just of the grassroots but also the local community,” said the source.
An online portal had on Sunday reported that Wan Saiful is set to be announced as the opposition candidate in the Pendang seat, which was traditionally held by Pas.
The article had quoted a source saying that Wan Saiful, who is from Kedah, wanted to contest in his home state.
The Pendang seat was won by Barisan Nasional in the 13th General Election after former Pas deputy president, Mohamad Sabu, who is now Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) president, lost to BN’s Datuk Othman Abdul with a 2,638-vote difference.
Wan Saiful was previously linked to the Putrajaya and Titiwangsa seats, both of which are held by BN.
When asked on the candidate preferred by the Pendang grassroots, the source declined to elaborate, only saying that the person is a young individual who is active in community activities, and an academic at a local university.