PETALING JAYA – Veteran politician and Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has confirmed that he will not be contesting in the upcoming Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) elections, citing age and a desire to make way for younger leaders.
“My time has passed. I want to give younger leaders the opportunity to contribute to PKR,” the 74-year-old told Berita Harian on March 1.
Hassan will not be vying for a position in the central leadership council, the Johor PKR chairmanship – which he previously held from 2014 to 2019 – or any divisional-level role. PKR’s divisional elections are set for next month, with the central committee polls scheduled for May. He praised the party’s decision to hold elections well ahead of the next general election, calling it a sign of PKR’s strength.
Known for his outspoken nature, Hassan has frequently made headlines for his candid views. In November, he was summoned by PKR’s disciplinary board for publicly criticizing the government, including its decision to award the rollout of Malaysia’s second 5G network to U Mobile Sdn Bhd. He was also accused of making remarks deemed disrespectful to Sultan Ibrahim, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong. However, the PKR central leadership ultimately chose not to take any action against him.