The Malaysian Insight

ANWAR Ibrahim’s road to replacing Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister through the Port Dickson by-election now has a challenger – Stevie Chan from Kuala Lumpur. 

The self-described Pakatan Harapan supporter has thrown his hat into the ring by announcing his move via Twitter yesterday. 

“It’s true. I intend to stand as an independent candidate. I have put together a small core team to help me with the campaign,” he told The Malaysian Insight when contacted.

“We’re drafting our manifesto to explain why we are doing this and what we can achieve,” he said.

His announcement comes amid growing public backlash to Anwar’s engineering of a by-election so soon after the 14th general election in May.

“A democracy has certain processes that you should honour. Failing to honour them make a mockery of it,” said Chan, best known for his posts under his former Twitter username YouTiup and now @tapaimalaya.

The announcement was met with positive responses, with individuals volunteering to help with his election campaign.

Chan said his team will depend on public donations and his own savings to fund the election campaign.

He stressed that the PD move was wrong.

First-time MP and former navy veteran Danyal Balagopal Abdullah had vacated his seat just four months after he was voted in to make way for Anwar.

“We are just in the beginning of reshaping this country. Why are we compromising for one person’s ambition and convenience?” asked Chan.

Anwar’s supporters, including his wife, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP and Amanah insist that it is high time for Anwar to return to the Dewan Rakyat. – September 15, 2018.