Nizar: BUKIT GANTANG BY-ELECTION - A NATIONAL REFERENDUM

Ousted Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin's candidacy for the Bukit Gantang by-election caught many political observers by surprise.

MCPX

After all, PAS has a large pool of talent that it could have fielded and Mohd Nizar already has his hands full trying to wrest the state government back from Barisan Nasional.

For Mohd Nizar, the answer was simple: "This is no mere by-election".

In an interview with Malaysiakini at his rented bungalow in Ipoh last Wednesday, Mohd Nizar revealed that the party was looking beyond the turmoil in Perak and was taking a direct aim at BN in Putrajaya.

"PAS leadership does not see Bukit Gantang as just a by-election. It is looking at Bukit Gantang as a platform for political change in Malaysia," he said.

Many observers and Pakatan Rakyat leaders have painted the Bukit Gantang contest as a referendum on the controversial BN takeover of the Perak government nearly two months ago.

BN has much to lose in this contest as a defeat would allow its opponents to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the state government, formed after three Pakatan state representatives defected.