GOMBAK: Controversial celebrity Azwan Ali has decided not to contest against his brother Datuk Seri Azmin Ali for the Gombak parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15).
The outspoken television host, better known as Diva AA, said he made the decision after he had a dream of his late mother, Mak Tom, who advised him not to contest.
He denied that he was forced to drop out due to a lack of funds, as candidates are required to pay RM10,000 to contest.
"I am thankful that Allah showed me a sign to not stand against my brother, through the whisper of the late Mak Tom in my dream, where she advised me not to compete," he said tearfully at the SMK Sungai Pusu nomination centre here today.
This would have been Azwan's second attempt in the political arena, having lost a multi-cornered contest for the Bukit Antarabangsa state seat to Azmin in the 2018 general election.
Azwan also claimed to have received a call from his sister-in-law, Datin Seri Shamshidar Taharin, last night.
"We talked at length last night. But the call was not to persuade me against contesting. We talked about other topics."
Azwan also expressed his support for Pakatan Harapan's candidate, Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shari.
Azmin left PKR in 2020 to join Perikatan Nasional. He has held Gombak, which he won under PKR's ticket, since GE12.
Azwan had earlier shared that it had been six years since the last time he met Azmin.