PETALING JAYA: Former Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa’s “health issues” had led to Anwar Ibrahim dropping him as a candidate in the coming polls.
Utusan Malaysia reported the opposition leader as saying that if the three-term MP campaigned while looking sickly, it could have an impact on Pakatan Harapan’s chances.
“And that was a factor I considered. Plus it also allows us to introduce a candidate who could beat (Barisan Nasional’s) Khairy Jamaluddin,” he was quoted as saying, referring to R Ramanan.
Earlier today, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said he had recommended that the party retain Sivarasa as its candidate for the parliamentary seat due to the latter’s track record.
Anwar, who had the final say, however, had a different view on the matter.
Sivarasa won the Sungai Buloh seat in the last general election in 2018 with a 26,634 vote majority against PAS’ Nuridah Salleh.