State PKR chairman Hairul Amir Sabri said Anwar’s presence in the constituency would bolster Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) position in Perak and help the coalition win more parliamentary and state seats in GE16, Berita Harian reported.

“Actually, it is still too early for us to know where Anwar will contest in the next general election. Based on experience, he usually makes his decision only two or three months before the election.

“However, we in Perak definitely need Anwar to remain here to help us win more seats in the upcoming GE16,” he told reporters after the opening of Perak PKR’s new headquarters in Meru, Ipoh, yesterday.

Hairul was asked to comment on speculation that the prime minister could shift his seat to Penang or Putrajaya.

Anwar won Tambun in GE15 with a majority of 3,736 votes, defeating Perikatan Nasional’s Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Barisan Nasional’s Aminuddin Hanafiah and GTA’s Abdul Rahim Tahir in a four-cornered fight.

On the resignation of Tanjung Malim PKR youth chief Haziq Azfar Ishak, Hairul said the impact was limited.

“In Tanjung Malim, out of the entire committee lineup, only a small number resigned. Most of them remain, and the division continues to function as usual,” he said.

He also dismissed claims of a mass exodus of PKR members in Perak, saying senior leaders and division chiefs were not involved.

“The number involved is very small compared with our total membership of more than 100,000 in Perak,” he said.