PD POLLS | Stevie Chan, one of the six candidates running against Pakatan Harapan candidate Anwar Ibrahim in Port Dickson, promises that “nothing will change” if he is elected.

Although seemingly a departure from the promises usually made by election candidates, the independent candidate said that a vote for him will be a vote for the stability of the post-May 9 status quo.

"If I win, that means nothing will change in national politics.

“We need years of stable politics after May 9 so we can rebuild (Malaysia).

"If I win, that means you maintain the stability. If Anwar wins, he cannot guarantee that," the social media personality said in an interview with Malaysiakini in Lukut.

Chan was the first to announce his attempt to pull off the unlikeliest of upsets by challenging Anwar for the parliamentary seat, but a similar appeal for stability had already been made by fellow independent candidate Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Saiful – Anwar’s former aide who accused him of sodomy – had previously said that there was no need to change prime ministers just four months into the new Harapan administration as it would result in political instability.

'What’s Anwar's vision for Malaysia?'

For Chan, he takes issue with Anwar not explaining his vision for Malaysia as the prime minister-designate.

Anwar also has a long track record in power, he added, which no one appears to be questioning.

"How come nobody questions him about his track record? His record as an education minister and finance minister?" Chan asked.

Previously, Chan said he would contest the by-election because of his opposition to the "PD move", and the idea of parliamentarians vacating their seats for no valid reason.

PKR’s Danyal Balagopal Abdullah was elected to the seat in the 14th general election with a resounding 17,170-vote majority, but he vacated it on Sept 12 to facilitate Anwar's return to Parliament.

'A third force'

Chan, a resident of Segambut, said he first considered stepping into the political fray as an independent in the 13th general election.

Several of his friends, including activist Haris Ibrahim, were talking about creating a "third force" at the time, but Chan eventually decided against contesting.

"My wife did not want me to run back then. She said, if you run, I will divorce you.

"But this time she is fully behind me. Even when I made my first pledge to move to Port Dickson full-time if I am elected, my wife stamped, signed and approved (my decision).”

Back then, Chan said, his justification for wanting to run was not strong enough to convince his wife, but she now understands why he decided to contest in Port Dickson.

Besides penalties for MPs who vacate their seats without just cause, his 10-point election manifesto also calls for greater income distribution by means of additional taxes on the wealthiest 10 percent of the population and additional cash aid for the poorest 20 percent.

In this Saturday’s by-election, Anwar, Chan, and Saiful will also face off against former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, PAS candidate Mohd Nazari Mokhtar, as well as Lau Seck Yan and Kan Chee Yuen.