PETALING JAYA: Tawfik Ismail, son of Malaysia’s second deputy prime minister Tun Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman, has offered himself to Pakatan Harapan as candidate in Bagan Datuk against Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Tawfik, the former Sungai Benut MP, said, “I have offered myself to contest under Pakatan Harapan against Zahid in Bagan Datuk.

“I am currently waiting for the reply from Pakatan,” he told Sin Chew Daily.

The Bagan Datuk Umno division has confirmed that the party’s president Ahmad Zahid will defend his seat.

Tawfik said he had no plan to join any political party under the PH coalition but to contest as an independent candidate under the coalition.

“The direction of my election campaign will be requesting the Bagan Datuk voters to choose between a member of parliament who is currently facing corruption charges and a candidate who is clean,” he said.

Tawfik said the PH shared 99.9% of his mission and the move to contest under the coalition is to ensure that Umno would not be able to win the seat.

“As long as PH is doing the right thing, I have no reason not to support the coalition.

“The reform agenda raised by Pakatan is what I intend to achieve,” he said.

Whenever he disagrees with the approach adopted by PH in ruling the country, Tawfik said he would still object or leave the coalition.

Tawfik was also one of the founding members of G25, a group of influential Malays comprising individuals with rich experiences in various fields and a common goal and vision to play a constructive role as the voice of moderation on religion.

Tawfik was an Umno member of parliament from 1986 to 1990.