The ceremony to name Pakatan's candidate was held at a community hall in Serendah last night and drew some 5,000 PKR, DAP and PAS supporters. It took off at 9.30pm and ended just before midnight.
Zaid was invited to the podium after Anwar introduced him as Pakatan's pick for Hulu Selangor, and greeted the Tamils and Sikhs with New Year wishes for today, which certainly appealed to the constituents present.He thanked the party for nominating him despite being a newcomer in a short speech.
"I'm not an outsider. I've been residing here in Selangor for a long time. I know the problems here.
"I'm not an outsider. I've been residing here in Selangor for a long time. I know the problems here.
"God willing, with your help, ladies and gentlemen, I can become your voice," said Zaid.
Accosted by reporters just before leaving, Zaid denied that he was much too liberal for the rural community of Hulu Selangor.
"I disagree... I came from a Malay constituency. I'm more Malay than most Sabah leaders. I understand the feelings of the people."
When asked about BN hopeful G Palanivel, he brushed the question off, saying that "it does not matter" who his opponent will be.
Earlier, when Anwar hollered that Zaid, who is Pakatan's coordinator, was be fielded, the enthralled crowd broke into tumultuous applause.
Anwar depicted Zaid, a former law minister, as a man of principle - one who was willing even to give up his minister's post to stand by his principles.
"This was the man who told Dollah (referring to former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), 'enough, here's my resignation'," said Anwar, beamingly.
Almost all of Pakatan's top brass attended the event, including PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Syed Husin Ali, Tan Seng Giaw Wan Azizah Ismail, N Gobalakrishnan, Chua Jui Meng, Charles Santiago and S Manikavasagam.
Accosted by reporters just before leaving, Zaid denied that he was much too liberal for the rural community of Hulu Selangor."I disagree... I came from a Malay constituency. I'm more Malay than most Sabah leaders. I understand the feelings of the people."
When asked about BN hopeful G Palanivel, he brushed the question off, saying that "it does not matter" who his opponent will be.
Earlier, when Anwar hollered that Zaid, who is Pakatan's coordinator, was be fielded, the enthralled crowd broke into tumultuous applause.
Anwar depicted Zaid, a former law minister, as a man of principle - one who was willing even to give up his minister's post to stand by his principles."This was the man who told Dollah (referring to former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), 'enough, here's my resignation'," said Anwar, beamingly.
Almost all of Pakatan's top brass attended the event, including PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Syed Husin Ali, Tan Seng Giaw Wan Azizah Ismail, N Gobalakrishnan, Chua Jui Meng, Charles Santiago and S Manikavasagam.
Zaid quit as the law minister in 2008, objecting to the arrest of Selangor executive councillor Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Sin Chew Daily's journalist Tan Hoon Cheng under the Internal Security Act (ISA).He was then booted from Umno the same year for attending several opposition party events and a year later joined PKR.
The lawyer was then appointed as member of the party's political bureau and tasked to construct Pakatan Rakyat's common policy framework aimed at fastening the loose coalition of DAP, PAS, and PKR.
Apart from Zaid, Pakatan's national leadership had also considered local's blue eyed boy, neurosurgeon Dr Halili Rahmat, whose name was proposed by the Hulu Selangor PKR division.
The lawyer was then appointed as member of the party's political bureau and tasked to construct Pakatan Rakyat's common policy framework aimed at fastening the loose coalition of DAP, PAS, and PKR.
Apart from Zaid, Pakatan's national leadership had also considered local's blue eyed boy, neurosurgeon Dr Halili Rahmat, whose name was proposed by the Hulu Selangor PKR division.Anwar's announcement of its candidate comes two days ahead that of BN, which is expected to name MIC deputy president Palanivel as its candidate on Thursday at Bukit Beruntung, Batang Kali.
Nominations will be filed on Saturday, while polling will be held on April 25.
Nominations will be filed on Saturday, while polling will be held on April 25.The by-election was announced following the death of Pakatan's Zainal Abidin Ahmad on Mar 25.
There are 64,500 voters in Hulu Selangor, with the Malays making up 52.7 percent of the total while the Chinese constitute 26.3 percent, Indians approximately 19 percent and other races at 1.7 percent.
There are 64,500 voters in Hulu Selangor, with the Malays making up 52.7 percent of the total while the Chinese constitute 26.3 percent, Indians approximately 19 percent and other races at 1.7 percent.
courtesy of Malaysiakini
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