In a statement, Sivarasa said PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had raised concerns about his health issue, with the former Sungai Buloh MP using a speech amplifier to assist and protect his voice.

“I had a differing view and explained how I would manage the campaign differently taking into account the state of my voice,” he said.

He said he was PKR’s candidate for the Sungai Buloh seat up until Friday morning, before Anwar informed him that he had been dropped from the party’s list of nominees.

“I fully accept Anwar’s decision as the head of the party. He has the right to make the final decision, taking into account his perceived view of my health situation and any other factors which he considers relevant,” he said.

Sivarasa, who is the head of PKR’s legal bureau, said the party’s Sungai Buloh division had known that Khairy Jamaluddin would be BN’s candidate for the seat.

“I ask for a halt to this polemic about my not being a candidate. It is more important to focus on the campaign for Pakatan Harapan to win Putrajaya,” he said.

Yesterday, Utusan Malaysia quoted Anwar as saying Sivarasa was dropped as a candidate due to health issues.

Anwar reportedly said PH’s chances could be affected if the three-term MP campaigned while looking sickly.

Sivarasa first won the Subang seat in 2008. He defended it in the 2013 elections and again in GE14 after it was renamed Sungai Buloh, with a majority of more than 26,000 votes.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said he had recommended that the party retain Sivarasa as its candidate for the seat due to his track record.

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