AMANAH president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has dismissed claims that there is any issue with the party fielding a non-Malay candidate in the Permas state seat for the Johor state election.
He said the decision on candidates has already been finalised and there is no dispute over the nomination of Sharon Teo as the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate representing AMANAH in the constituency.
“There is no issue (in fielding the candidate). Everything has been settled. Insya-Allah,” he told reporters after officiating the export of MD2 fresh pineapples to New Zealand at the Farmers’ Organisation Board (LPP) Tower.
He was responding to questions regarding AMANAH Pasir Gudang’s reported boycott of the candidate.
Earlier, it was reported that AMANAH Pasir Gudang held a press conference announcing its decision to boycott the PH candidate for Permas, who was named by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 22 June.
The local division’s Penolong Setiausaha, Haini Harun, said the decision was made unanimously as they still supported Pasir Gudang AMANAH chief Syed Othman Abdullah as a more suitable candidate based on his leadership and grassroots work.
He said repeated objections were raised against the possibility of an outsider candidate being selected, but no response was received.
According to him, the decision to field a candidate unfamiliar to local party machinery would make campaigning more challenging within a short period.
As a result, the division decided to boycott the candidate by refusing to assist in the campaign, although they would not obstruct other campaign machinery.
AMANAH Johor had earlier announced Sharon as the Permas candidate, making her the party’s only non-Malay and non-Muslim candidate for the Johor election.
Sharon, who previously served as AMANAH Johor Assistant Secretary and Johor Warda Women’s Chief, said her candidacy reflects AMANAH’s multiracial identity and inclusive approach.
She added that the party embraces the concept of “rahmatan lil alamin” (mercy for all) and described herself as a protégé of the late former AMANAH deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
