Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor's announcement of his intention to stand against Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak in the general election drew mixed reactions from supporters.

While the Youth exco has backed him, others in the wing hope that Ezam will have a change of heart and stand instead in a safe parliamentary seat.

This might well be in Kelantan or Terengganu, as sources said Keadilan ally PAS is keen to arrange for Ezam to stand in either state on a parliamentary ticket.

At Saturday's rally organised by the Free Anwar Movement in Cherok To'Kun, Seberang Prai, Ezam said he was willing to challenge Najib for the Pekan parliamentary seat in Pahang.

In 1999, Najib retained the seat with a razor-thin majority of 241 votes after Ramli Mohamed of PAS garnered 12,907 votes to his 13,148 votes.

Ezam, who stood in the Shah Alam parliamentary seat, lost by 1,440 votes to BN's Mohd Zin Mohamad (35,851 votes), but managed to reduce the majority with the 34,411 votes he garnered.

Pros and cons

Youth vice-chairperson Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin told malaysiakini that he believed Keadilan would be in a better position if Ezam is elected to Parliament.

"There is much to be gained in we can get him into Parliament through a safe seat, especially in highlighting the Anwar Ibrahim issue as this is a main agenda for the wing," he said.

"We have gone through many processes to free him (Anwar). The first stage was to protest through peaceful street demonstrations, but that failed. Then we held discussions with BN leaders and government officials for support but that only created suspicion. The only platform that we have yet to utilise is Parliament."

Describing Ezam as a "brilliant orator", Shamsul said he would make a good parliamentarian and one who would have no difficulty gaining the attention of the media.

"Once you've made your case in Parliament, it would be difficult for the government and the media to ignore you," he said.

Youth secretary-general SD Johari said he has learnt that PAS may offer Ezam the Kota Baru parliamentary seat, now held by Keadilan's Ramli Ibrahim. It is understood that Ramli will not be defending the seat.

Johari said, however, that "Ezam is not out to choose a safe seat".

"He is not that type. He is more interested in coming up with a political strategy that will enhance the party's struggles. And one way is to take on Najib," he said.

It is understood that taking Najib's scalp would prevent a proxy of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad from rising in the BN ranks.

"If Ezam wins in Kota Baru, the victory would not be as significant as one against Najib," Johari said.

Reason explained

Contacted today, Ezam said his decision to take on Najib was based on a need "to fight corrupt leadership".

"I believe that if he (Najib) takes over from (premier) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, we will have another round of Mahathirism for years to come," he said.

"As a youth leader, I must do something to stop a leader who could continue Mahathir's style of leadership."

He said his intention had been made at the time of Najib's appointment as deputy prime minister, and strengthened by the recent defection of 12 Keadilan members to Umno.

"We have reason to believe that Najib was involved in the crossover, based on the statutory declaration by (Youth exco member) Zoolhelmi Yahya," said Ezam.

Asked to comment on the PAS plan to offer him a safe seat, Ezam admitted he had been only told about this by a third party and that there has been no official offer.

"I value and appreciate PAS' concern and support. But as I said, there are other considerations that I cannot ignore."

"It must be stressed that the final decision will be made by the Keadilan supreme council. If it decides that I cannot stand in Pekan, I will abide by the decision."