Former independent candidate mulls coalition of independents

SEBERANG JAYA: A former independent candidate in the 13th General Election is mulling the formation of a coalition of independent candidates to contest in the next general election.
Dr Shamsut Tabrej Ismail Marican, who contested in the Seberang Jaya state seat against Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) Dr Afif Bahardin and Barisan Nasional's (BN) Datuk Mohamad Nasir Abdullh in the 2013 GE said he has plans to form the coalition to field an independent candidate in all 40 state seats and 13 parliamentary seats.
"These individuals are Penangites, who will serve the Penangites, and are of various backgrounds," he said, adding that there are about 27 individuals at the moment.
Shamsut, who is a former military man and Malaysian Commissioner of Oath council president, said the coalition will not have a leader, and are free to speak their mind on behalf of the people.
"These candidates should also have their own office or service centre to serve the people," he told reporters today.
Despite garnering only 251 votes in the general election, Shamsut added that this will not deter him from re-contesting in the 14th General Election.
"I might go up and contest in a parliamentary seat. I am happy, I am clean and and I am still for the people," he said.
Earlier, BN's Permatang Pauh by-election candidate Suhaimi Sabudin and Permatang Pauh Umno division Chief Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said paid Shamsut a visit at his office here in Lintang Tenggiri.
Shamsut endorses Suhaimi, as he felt that he was the best candidate of the four contesting in the by-election.
"If he is elected, there would be development and improvement in the constituency as the candidate can get help from the ruling coalition of the day," he said.
Suhaimi is going up against PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Parti Rakyat Malaysia's Azman Shah Osman and independent Salleh Isahak.
Seberang Jaya is among the two Penang state seats under the Permatang Pauh constituency.