PETALING JAYA: Maverick Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee will not be fielded as a Pakatan Harapan candidate in the Melaka state poll, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

       The Opposition leader said that Pakatan had received the views from all parties regarding the four representatives who triggered the collapse of the Melaka state government and stressed that the people’s interest was more important than those of individuals.

       “As they are not members of any of Pakatan’s component parties, the question of their candidacy did not arise during today’s meeting.

       “However, the presidential council has decided that Norhizam Hassan will not be a Pakatan Harapan candidate in the Melaka state polls,” said the PKR president in a statement yesterday.

       Norhizam had said that he will defend his Pengkalan Batu seat as a Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidate, claiming the party’s top leadership had accepted him.

       “PKR feels I am priceless,” he claimed, adding he was sure most of his constituents would support him.Norhizam was the Melaka DAP deputy chairman when he defected to the Barisan Nasional/Perikatan Nasional-led state government in March last year.

       He then left the ruling state government along with three other assemblymen last month, leading to the dissolution of the state assembly and a state election set for Nov 20.

       The three assemblymen – Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Nor Azman Hassan, both Umno defectors and former Parti Bersatu Pribumi Noor Effandi Ahmad – were reportedly vying to contest in the Melaka election as Pakatan candidates.

       The Pakatan presidential council also agreed to appoint former Melaka Pakatan chief and former chief minister Adly Zahari to lead Pakatan’s election machinery to face the state elections.

       The council also agreed to send representatives to discuss and meet with the Election Commission (EC) with regard to the protocols for the Melaka state polls.

       “This is to convey the views of Pakatan Harapan and ensure that the principles of democracy are upheld, the right of political parties to meet voters is not affected, and the election process is fair to all parties, especially when Melaka is in Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan,” said Anwar.