Let Permatang Pauh be the third-force in Parliament - PRM

The 50 year-old businessman Azman Shah Othman said, Malaysians could be in dire need of a representative that could act as the 'check and balance' to both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat, an aspiration that he was keen to achieve.

"BN is a federal government while DAP is a component of the opposition pact that is the Penang state government...here PRM wants to play a role.

"We want to have a check and balance. And if there is something that is not right or not beneficial (their policies or programmes), we will come forward," he told a press conference here Saturday.

When asked on his plan for the Permatang Pauh should he wins the four- cornered fight, Azman Shah said, his promises among others, were to ensure the welfare of the lower and middle-income groups were well taken care of, spend all his allowances as a member of parliament for the needy, and to work with the authorities to reduce the crime rates.

Azman Shah also pledged to oppose the Sedition Act to ensure the freedom of speech, to fight against corruption, to ensure the abolishment of Goods and Services Tax (GST), as well as to solve local problems such as health, waste and drainage.

However, the little-known Azman Shah, admitted that he had just joined PRM barely a month ago, and his candidacy was approved by the party's central leadership based on his 'overwhelming' support towards the party's ideology.

Asked about his slow pace even though the campaign had entered the second week, Azman Shah said, it was because he and the machinery were busy doing surveys, asking the constituents what they wanted and their needs, as well as their expectation for the constituency.

"We are not slow...firstly we let other candidates campaign first. Let them campaign and finish their campaign then we will come to bring our ideas to them," he said.

The Permatang Pauh by-election on May 7 sees a four-cornered fight between Suhaimi Sabudin (Barisan Nasional), Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR), Azman Shah from PRM and Salleh Isahak (Independent).

The by-election is being held following the rejection by the Pardons Board of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's petition, made through his family, for a royal pardon over his sodomy conviction, causing him to be disqualified as Permatang Pauh MP.