At Tambun nomination centre, ‘traitor’ Ahmad Faizal tells Pakatan supporters ‘I love you’ instead
IPOH, Nov 5 — Incumbent Tambun MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu arrived at Dewan Sri Kledang Institut Latihan Perindustrian Ipoh at 8.50am today to praises and shouts of “takbir” from some 200 supporters of Perikatan Nasional (PN) whom he is now representing as he seeks to defend his parliamentary seat in the 15th general election.
Minutes after, he was showered with jeers and cries of “pengkhianat” — meaning traitor in Malay — when he passed by supporters of Pakatan Harapan (PH), the coalition he ran under in the last general election four years ago.
But the Bersatu deputy president took it all in his stride as he coolly walked the last 50 metres to the institute hall that was being used as the nomination centre.
“I love you all,” he shouted back, and gave a thumbs-up to his critics before entering the hall to file his nomination papers.
Asked how he felt about the name-calling, Ahmad Faizal said it was par for the course.
“It’s typical of them. But it’s fun too. I’m alright with that,” he replied.
While Ahmad Faizal appeared cool as a cucumber and is the incumbent, he won’t be coasting to victory this time as one of his challengers is none other than PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is representing the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and is seeking a victory as its prime ministerial candidate too.
Pakatan Harapan candidate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (centre) arrives at the nomination centre in Tambun November 5, 2022. ― Picture by Farhan Najib
Anwar had arrived at the same venue to file his nomination papers just five minutes after Ahmad Faizal.
With five minutes to spare before nominations officially open at 9am, the PH chairman only had a brief exchange with the media.
“We haven’t fully toured the constituency yet, but our state seat candidates Datuk Asmuni Awi and Muhamad Arafat Varisai Mahamad are meeting the people.
“We will try to meet as many as possible in the next two weeks,” he told reporters before rushing inside the hall.
Asked his goals for the two-week log official campaign period, Anwar said it is to win the election and recapture the federal and Perak state governments.
