Division chief: I can beat Anwar
Defying popular opinion, the Permatang Pauh Umno division chairperson Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid fancies beating PKR de facto and Permatang Pauh candidate Anwar Ibrahim in the Aug 26 by-election.
He is the preferred candidate of the parliamentary seat's Umno division, and if the federal leadership concur with local party members' sentiment, Abdul Jalil feels he has a good chance of winning and inflicting on Anwar his first ever electoral loss.
"There is always a first time for everything. No one is unbeatable.
"I have reasons to believe that I have a good chance," Abdul Jalil told Malaysiakini.
Firstly, he said the division's backing revealed his leadership and members' willingness to work for his win.
"That gives me an extra impetus to face Anwar," said the 54-year-old former one-term Penanti state assemblyperson (2004 - 2008). He lost his state seat in the last election to PKR's Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.
He agreed that it would be a "war zone" since the seat has been the monopoly of Anwar's family for 26 years.
Yet Abdul Jalil is unperturbed by the large crowds at Anwar's two recent rallies at the Agricultural Expo site in Seberang Jaya, a state constituency under Permatang Pauh.
"I should believe that a victory is within BN's grasp when I enter into a political battle.
"Otherwise, I should not offer myself as a candidate," said Abdul Jalil.
Process is free and fair
On demands for use of indelible ink in the by-election by some politicians and observers, he said it was unnecessary because "Malaysia possessed more advanced electoral management system than those countries using it."
Among countries using indelible ink in polls are Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India.
"I think the present system works well and the electoral process is free and fair," said Abdul Jalil.
Nomination day is on Saturday Aug 16 and polling on Aug 26, a Tuesday.
The by-election was initiated with the stepping down of the incumbent PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail last week.
