Friday July 25, 2008 MYT 6:18:52 PM

Anwar may contest in Kulim-Bandar Baharu

By V. CHANDRASEKARAN

SUNGAI PETANI: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to announce where he would be contesting during a gathering at the Chinese Recreational Club in Kulim on Sunday.

Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul said he believed Anwar would make the announcement as part of the strategy by Pakatan Rakyat to take over the Federal Government.

“The fact is that the announcement will be made in Kulim should surprise the people.

“Sept 16 is the party’s deadline to form the next Federal Government and the planned by-election is within that framework,” he told a press conference here on Thursday night.

Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir has filed an election petition against Kulim-Bandar Baharu PKR MP Zulkifli Nordin that he had failed to submit his statement of expenditure when he contested the Kuala Langat parliamentary seat in 2004.

Zulkifli won the Kulim-Bandar Baharu seat, polling 22,255 votes against Abdul Aziz’s 5,583 votes in the March 8 general election.

The Alor Star High Court had on June 17 dismissed a preliminary objection by Zulkifli to strike out the petition.

Abdul Aziz is requesting the court to declare that the March 8 election results for the Kulim-Bandar Baharu seat null and void. The case is set for hearing on Aug 19.

Johari said PKR was prepared to face a by-election in Kulim-Bandar Baharu.

"Should the court decide against us, we are prepared (for a by-election). And of course, if the court decides in our favour, then we will decide on our next course of action," he said.