By-election: Ezam willing to take on Anwar
Malaysiakini.com
Jul 28, 2008
Rahmah Ghazali

Former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor is prepared to contest against his ex-mentor Anwar Ibrahim if a by-election is called for the Kulim-Bandar Baru parliamentary seat.
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ezam gerak aca corruption pc 030407 sincere"If the Umno leadership decides to give me the mandate to contest against Anwar, I will be prepared (to do so)," he told Malaysiakini today.

Ezam said he received overwhelming support from the Umno grassroots during his nationwide campaign against Anwar.

"I think from the reaction from the grassroots I received during the campaign, I have proved myself already.

"The top leadership has accepted my explanation (on why he chose to rejoin Umno) and they have been positive about it," he added.

However, Ezam conceded that his chances of winning as a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate would be slim given the "political and economical" factors in the country at the moment.

"Although it would be quite an uphill task for me but as a matter of principle, I would not run away (from the contest)," he said, stressing that winning is not everything.

"(Even though) I will be the underdog but what is important is that I have the courage to fight him till the end," he added.

'I will reveal the truth'

Ezam also stressed that even if he is not picked as the candidate, he will lend his support to the BN candidate in order to defeat Anwar.

"If I'm not chosen, I will support whoever the BN candidate is and I will go down (to the ground) with him to fight Anwar," he said.

anwar ibrahim freed from police ipk detention pc 170708 09Anwar yesterday confirmed that he would contest in th by-election for the Kulim-Bandar Baru parliamentary seat if the court orders for one to be held.

Ezam, who joined Umno two months ago, said it would be most appropriate for him to fight Anwar head-on to "settle fundamental things."

"I was said to be a sell-out for rejoining Umno but I went to prison for him (Anwar). For 10 years I had suffered the consequences and I have to say that all the accusations thrown at me are baseless," he said.

"After 10 years, it is time to reveal to the people what is the truth and this (by-election) is the only time for people to know that. So, let the people judge," he added.

Ezam had served as Anwar's political secretary when the PKR de facto leader was deputy prime minister prior to his unceremonious sacking in 1998.

He was also a staunch supporter of the opposition stalwart but left PKR last year and since then has been on the offensive against Anwar.

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