SHAH ALAM, 18 Feb: The PKR de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, does not want to detract anyone from wanting to contest as a candidate in the Kajang State Legislative Assembly (DUN) by-election.

However, he said that his main challenge would be a candidate from Barisan Nasional (BN) because the party has substantial funds, machinery and media.

“In a democracy, anyone can contest. I do not consider the former member of PKR, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, and other independent candidates as contenders in the by-election.

“I think that the battle is with the BN candidate. The issue is what BN will say.

“I am not patronising anyone, but with machinery, funding and media support, we must be realistic and acknowledge that as soon as BN announces their candidate, they will campaign on a large scale,” he told reporters during a press conference at the PKR Headquarters.

He hopes that voters in Kajang can evaluate and then determine the victor in the by-election.

“In my opinion, BN is serious in contesting in Kajang. If not so, why would Radio Television Malaysia air visits by ministers and issues in Kajang every 20 minutes each day.

“But the Election Commission of Malaysia can only see me campaigning early,” he said cynically.

Previously, the candidate in the kajang DUN welcomed the former President of KITA, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, to contest in the Kajang by-election.

He said that Zaid is free to do so as this country practices the system of parliamentary democracy.