Azmin returns from 'self-exile' to wish Sungai Besar candidates good luck

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali who had evaded the media after allegations of corruption in the Selangor state government had emerged, was seen at Dewan Seri Bernam, here today.

The PKR Deputy President who was not present when Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) announced the candidate for the Sungai Besar by-election, arrived at Dewan Sri Bernam 15 minutes after the candidate, Azhar Abdul Shukur, and his entourage arrived.

Azhar was accompanied by PKR President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang when submitting his nomination papers.

Azmin, who spent about an hour there, was seen wishing PAS candidate Dr Abdul Rani Osman, good luck for the by-election.

"Here (Sungai Besar), Dr Abdul Rani is part of the Selangor government and also a 'state backbencher' who had always supported the Selangor state administration.

"I wish him (Dr Abdul Rani) all the best in the by-election and we hope both PAS and Amanah will be focused on the challenge against BN," he told reporters, here today.

The Selangor Menteri Besar had allegedly cancelled a number of functions in the state and stayed away from the media following PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli's report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over claims that money and women were sought to negotiate with the state government.

Wan Azizah, when asked to comment about Azmin's presence today and not on the day when the candidate was announced, said: "He did not attend when the announcement was made, but then he is here today...good lah."

The Sungai Besar by-election will see a three-cornered fight between BN's Budiman Mohd Zohdi, Dr Abdul Rani Osman from PAS and Azhar Abdul Shukur from Amanah.

Polling for the by-election which was necessitated after the death of its MP, Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5, is fixed for June 18 while early voting will take place on June 14.