DE FACTO Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s campaign for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election is running like a well-oiled machine. The PKR ceramahs have been well attended by people of all races, who come to hear various Pakatan Rakyat leaders such as PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar, PKR’s information chief Tian Chua, and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim lend their voices in support of Anwar’s candidacy.
But the star is undoubtedly Anwar, who faces Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah from the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Akima’s Hanafi Hamat in the by-election on 26 Aug 2008. The by-election was forced after Anwar’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned her seat, which she won in the 1999, 2004 and 2008 general elections. Anwar hopes for a convincing win to bolster his standing and pave the way for him to enter Parliament as opposition leader.
