JOHOR BARU, Nov 4 — Carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan today said he is pulling out as a Perikatan Nasional (PN) election candidate for Pulai in Johor.
However, he said he still intends on contesting in the parliamentary seat — either with another coalition, failing which he will be an independent candidate.
“I have today chosen to join a coalition which embraces my political views and is unafraid as ‘true guardians and warriors of our beloved nation to fight and protect our beloved nation against these corrupt kleptocrats,” he said in a statement.
Deepak, a former friend of ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the latter’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, said he will file his nomination papers tomorrow and elaborate on his vision and plans then.
Johor PN election director Rasman Ithnain had yesterday confirmed Deepak as the Gerakan pick for Pulai despite rumours that the coalition would be fielding someone else as the coalition’s candidate there.
Gerakan is one of the five component in PN under the shadow of the two Malay Muslim parties — Bersatu and PAS.
Deepak would be up against two political heavyweights for Pulai.
Pakatan Harapan is fielding its Johor chief Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who is also the incumbent Pulai MP.
Barisan Nasional is sending in its Johor Umno deputy chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed who was also the previous MP before Salahuddin.
