In a Facebook post, the former prime minister said Lokman Noor Adam was sacked from Umno for speaking up against the cruel treatment of Anwar Ibrahim in 1999.

Anwar was sacked as the deputy prime minister a year earlier and jailed for sodomy and abuse of power. He is now the de facto leader of PKR, which is a member of Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Najib also reminded that Lokman was detained for a thousand days under the now-defunct Internal Security Act after pushing for reforms.

“And then he was sacked from PKR because he raised the issue of misappropriation of funds by PKR leaders.”

Najib warned that no ruling party should be allowed to grow too powerful, at the state or federal levels, as it would become arrogant and ignore the voice of the people.

He said this situation was already happening, pointing to the current PKR-led Selangor government allegedly cancelling welfare-related initiatives while failing to fulfil its election pledges on the grounds the PH manifesto wasn’t a “bible”.

He cited the state government’s review of its programme to provide free water supply and plan to increase the rates for plastic bags.

This is why, Najib said, the people should vote in Lokman to ensure the welfare of the people would not be sidelined and the state or federal governments would not renege on their promises.

“Give BN a chance to be a stronger opposition and give its candidate Lokman Adam a chance to defend the people of Sungai Kandis and Selangor.”

Lokman, who is an Umno Supreme Council member, will go up against PKR’s Zawawi Ahmad Mughni and Murthy Krishnasamy.

The seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent, Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei, on July 2 due to lymphoma.

In the May 9 polls, PKR’s Shuhaimi won the seat with a 12,480-vote majority.