SEREMBAN: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hopes that voters will reject any manipulations of racial sentiments in the Rantau state seat by-election.
He said Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Dr S Streram is the most suitable candidate based on his work background, as he had served as a volunteer doctor in war-torn Muslim countries.
“Not many of us know that he had served as a volunteer doctor to treat injured Muslims in Afghanistan and Sudan,” Anwar said at PH’s official Rantau by-election candidate introduction session at Taman Angsamas People’s Hall here, today.
“He went there risking his life without getting a single sen.
“This demonstrates his humanity. That’s why I decided to keep him as a candidate in the Rantau by-election, besides the fact that we want to honour the promise made to him.
“I hope, just like Dr Streram, voters in Rantau too won’t limit themselves to religious and race factors when they vote.”
Dr Streram said he had served as a volunteer doctor in Afghanistan and Sudan in 2010 and 2011.
“I joined the NGO group, Doctors Without Borders, serving in Afghanistan for a month and in Sudan for 10 days.
“In 2015, I was supposed to join a humanitarian mission in Syria, but due to time constraints and duties, I was unable to join.
“I will give my service especially to the people in Rantau to help them solve any issues and problems,” he said.
More than 500 people, including top PH leaders, were present to support Dr Streram’s nomination.
They included PKR vice-president Tian Chua, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Negri Sembilan PH chairman Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Negri Sembilan Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia head Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.