Nothing odd about clash with 'old PKR friend' Amirudin, says Azmin

Gombak incumbent Mohamed Azmin Ali today said there was nothing strange about his impending clash for the seat with Amirudin Shari, his "old friend" from PKR, at the Nov 19 general election. 

Azmin, the international trade and industry minister, also reiterated that his fight against the Selangor menteri besar had nothing to do with personalities or parties. 

Speaking to reporters outside the Gombak nomination centre in Selangor today, he said it was instead about defending the mandate of the people.

"If the party which gained the support of the people at the last general election failed to fulfil the promises it made, what is there for me to defend?" he added. 

The Gombak seat will witness a five-way fight among Azmin, representing Perikatan Nasional, Amirudin of Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional's Megat Zulkarnain Omardi, Aziz Jamaludin Mohd Tahir of Putra and independent candidate Zulkifli Ahmad.

Azmin defended his seat at the last election, winning 75,113 votes and defeating his competitors from Umno (26,392 votes) and PAS (17,537 votes). 

Azmin said the mandate given to PH at the previous election was for the implementation of reforms to improve the people's quality of life. 

He claimed that during PH's time in power, all manner of statements had been made that had offended not only the Malays but other communities as well. 

"If I defend PH, it would be a betrayal of this mandate," he added.