UMNO and PAS Eye Anwar’s Penang Home Ground

The Straits Times

12 March 2018

The home constituency of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will see a stiff three-cornered fight in the coming elections, but residents say the Permatang Pauh seat will likely remain the stronghold of the Anwar family.

The ward, located on the mainland side of Penang and near the first Penang bridge, has been held by Anwar or his wife Wan Azizah Ismail since 1982.

UMNO, Anwar’s former party, has always put up a candidate to vie for the seat. But this time, Islamist party PAS, too, wants the prized constituency.

The seat is currently held by Dr Wan Azizah, president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Said Mr Rashaad Ali, an analyst with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies: “I think that when it comes down to it, those who voted for the opposition last time round will do so again, despite their misgivings. PKR supporters will probably still vote accordingly, despite the Mahathir factor”.

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