KUALA LUMPUR – Permatang’s controversial candidate representing the PH-BN alliance Mohd Yahya Sahri said Perikatan Nasional (PN) has no business criticising him for his past conviction because Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also served “jail time” in the past.
His conviction and subsequent punishment, he said, which was fully served, did not meant that he is unable to take part in election for the state seat.
In fact, Yahya, who is popularly known as Pak Ya, said he felt “more innocent” compared to other people because he had served his time in prison.
“I am a Malaysian who is far cleaner than other people. Are the people who have not been punished clean ?
“The father of PN’s candidate (in Permatang) could be dirtier than me, how do we know? He has not gone through the process (of being charged and convicted),” he told Scoop today.
The former officer to the late Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was referring to his sole opponent for the seat, PN’s Nurul Syazwani Noh, daughter of former Selangor Umno chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar.
The 57-year-old had been convicted of criminal breach of trust in 2016 and was sentenced to two years’ jail and two strokes of the cane.
His past conviction and present candidacy is currently being used by PN in their campaign to discredit Yahya prompting their campaign slogan – “Do you want an ex-felon to become your representative?”
Yahya, who claimed to have been involved in politics when Pakatan Rakyat was officially registered in 2009, said he does not think he is a liability to his party PKR.
When asked, if he thinks that he is the best person to be representing PH-BN in contesting for the rural state seat, he said: “I cannot say that, that would be too proud of me. But the party president (Anwar) selected me and I am honoured to be entrusted with this task, so I offer myself and my service to lead Permatang.”
During the last state election in 2018, Permatang was won by PH’s Rozana Zainal Abidin with a 1,158-vote majority over BN. – August 2, 2023