THREE elected representatives secured major positions in the Penang government right after winning the Sungai Bakap state seat.
The late Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah of Barisan Nasional was named Penang deputy chief minister after emerging victorious in 2004.
In 2013, Pakatan Rakyat’s (now Pakatan Harapan) Datuk Maktar Shapee of PKR was named the state assembly deputy speaker.
His party colleague, Datuk Amar Pritpal Abdullah was also given the same post after he successfully defended the Sungai Bakap seat in 2018.
And it is not the first time a by-election is being held for this seat.
In the 1997 by-election, Barisan Nasional’s Lai Chew Hock of Gerakan secured victory in a four-cornered fight.
He prevailed against former MIC branch leader K. “Mittai” Ganesh, former teacher Abu Harith Ahmad and DAP’s Goh Kheng Huat.
The by-election was held following assemblyman Ooi Theng Bok’s death in a road accident.
Gerakan was still part of Barisan coalition then.
Being part of the Nibong Tebal parliamentary seat, Sungai Bakap is also surrounded by big guns from both the state and federal levels.
Nibong Tebal MP Fadhlina Sidek is Education Minister, while the neighbouring seats – Jawi and Sungai Acheh – are helmed by two state executive councillors from DAP (Jason H’ng Mooi Lye) and Umno (Rashidi Zinol).
