Ex-DPM Ismail's scion seeks to battle Zahid in polls By Alyaa Alhadjri

Malaysiakini : Former Sungai Benut MP Tawfik Ismail has vowed to challenge Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the upcoming general election.

Tawfik, the eldest son of the country’s second deputy prime minister the late Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, said his purpose was to send a strong anti-corruption message. "I will fight in (Zahid's stronghold of) Bagun Datuk or anywhere he runs. My campaign is 'rakyat versus rasuah' (people versus corruption).

"I will call on all Malaysians who hate corruption to see my fight as their fight," said the 71-year-old who will be running as an independent candidate under the Gerak Independent (GI) platform.  Tawfik (above) added that it was important for him to "go for the leader" in order to spread his message.

"Everyone else is a tadpole."

Earlier this year, GI announced its line-up of potential GE15 candidates for Subang, Petaling Jaya, Wangsa Maju, Kota Kinabalu and Batu - all seats won by Pakatan Harapan during the 2018 election.

Burung Kakak : Don't forget Zahid was chosen by Najib to be his deputy and he is now shamelessly clamouring for Najib's freedom. If Tawfik can knock him off, Tawfik would be a Hero which would bring back some Hope for this country. PH must strategize with the Gerak Group to win smartly i.e. able to form the Govt.

Frans Rozario : If Tawfik goes for the seat PH must stay out and campaign for him, PH can't beat Zahid on his home turf. It will be great if Tawfik Ismail takes on Zahid and defeats him. His father Tun Dr. Ismail was a visionary, he called a spade a spade even if it made him unpopular.

He advocated that then Alliance party which comprised UMNO, MCA and MIC unite together as one party making it a multiracial party. In fact he did not even want to call it multiracial but simply a united Malayan Party, race was never on his mind.

He condemned the likes of Mahathir Mohammed and Musa Hitam who were then speaking of Malay dominance, and never wanted Mahathir back in UMNO after Tunku sacked him, it was Razak Najib's father who brought him back and he (Mahathir) in turn made Najib Prime Minister.

Proarte : Seeming bad move by Tawfik. On the other hand a split vote may benefit Pakatan Harapan(PH). Tawfik needs to discuss with PH what the best strategy is. I would prefer for him to go for other rural seats.

There is no realistic chance of him to knock off Zahid a racist, an alleged Kleptocrat with over 40 charges hanging over his head and UMNO President on his own. To win, a big wig like Anwar or Rafizi should take Zahid on. It would be a huge symbolic prize for the UMNO president to be beaten, portending the demise of UMNO as we know it.

Anon25 : You should talk to PH leaders and agree on the number of seats to contest and where. You must contest to win. Independents rarely win in Semenanjong. And Gerak is relatively unknown. So my advice is for Gerak to contest in 2 seats only picked by consensus with PH.

If you Tawfik decide to contest in Bagan Datok the opposition must fully support you there. It must be translated into a fight of integrity versus corruption Many of us are ardent supporters of Tun DR Ismail. Our best wishes go with his son.

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