Son of former DPM to face Zahid wherever he contests

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Contesting under the Gerak Independent banner.

Tawfik Ismail, the eldest son of Malaysia’s second deputy prime minister Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, said he will take on Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wherever he contests in the coming 15th general election (GE15).

The former Umno MP, said he will be among the line-up of Gerak Independent (GI) candidates and will fight Zahid, including in the latter’s stronghold of Bagan Datuk.

“It’s time for the Malays to stand and fight for the right values,” Tawfiq was reported as saying.

Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, has been the Bagan Datuk MP since 1995.

Tawfik urged Malaysians who hate corruption to see his struggle as theirs as well.

“I will call on all Malaysians who hate corruption to see my fight as their fight. 

“I am not splitting Pakatan Harapan votes but instead taking my fight to the Malay heartland.

“Malays must take back the moral compass and a Malay must show the way,” he added.

Tawfik will be contesting under the GI banner, a joint initiative promoting independent candidates for GE15.

Tawfik was elected as the Sungai Benut MP in 1986. He left Umno the following year after the party’s tumultuous leadership election.

It will be an uphill task for Tawfik to win in Bagan Datuk, a constituency which Zahid has represented six times since 1995.

Tawfik was once a corporate man and had a stint in Fleet Group Sdn Bhd – Umno’s business arm. He also played a role in setting up Malaysia’s first private broadcaster TV3 in 1984.