Mansor Othman is PKR candidate for Penanti by-election

Former deputy chief minister (I) and former Penanti assemblyman
Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin congratulates Mansor Othman on his
selection by PKR as the party's candidate for the Penanti by-election.
Looking on are PKR defacto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his
wife PKR president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.


SEBERANG PRAI (April 28, 2009) : Penang PKR deputy chief Mansor Othman has been named the party’s candidate for the upcoming Penanti state by-election on May 31, confirming widespread speculations and media predictions.

The 54-year old party veteran was introduced was by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim at a ceramah at Yayasan Aman here tonight.

Anwar had earlier made his entry into the ceramah accompanied by Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, the embattled former Penang Deputy Chief Minister (I) who resigned as the Penanti assemblyman on April 16, forcing the by-election.

Fairus had resigned after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) began investigating him for alleged graft related to a quarry company. He was however cleared of all charges by MACC last week.

In his speech, Anwar said he has requested Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to appoint Mansor as the new DCM (I), a seat reserved for PKR under the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) agreement in the state government, if he wins.

Mansor, holds three Masters degrees, including two from Yale University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in philosophy.

He had served as the political secretary to Anwar when he was deputy prime minister in the 1990s, and moved on to joined Keadilan after Anwar was sacked from Umno and the government in 1998.

The former Keadilan Penang chief was also heavily involved in negotiations undertaken between DAP, PAS and PKR within the Pakatan coalition.

In his speech, Anwar said the party had seriously considered its president and former Permatang Pauh MP Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the candidate for Penanti and hence the deputy chief minister, due to her close ties with Lim.

Lim had however given feedback that the party should not just consider personal ties in deciding on the appointment, Anwar said.

Anwar also praised Fairus for warding off threats and inducements to quit PKR while he was being investigated.

He said Fairus had sacrificed a great deal, including being held in lock-up for a night when he was detained in Johor Baru.

Fairus had earlier told the crowd that he has “been though hell and back” since the MACC began investigating him.

He thanked the residents of Penanti for supporting him during the difficult period, and pledged his support for PKR and Mansor.

“I will make a political comeback soon enough,” he said.