PETALING JAYA: The guessing game as to who will contest for the Tanjung Dawai seat in Kedah has been answered.
Barisan Nasional is set to field its candidate, following a series of negotiations between the coalition and its unity government partner Pakatan Harapan.
Merbok Umno division chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin was named as Barisan’s candidate for the state seat yesterday – five days before nomination day on Saturday.
With Shaiful Hazizy’s candidacy, the coalition will now contest in 108 of the 245 seats in the six state elections.
When Barisan unveiled its candidates on July 21, it named 107 candidates despite chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announcing that the coalition would contest in 108 seats.
Those with knowledge of the matter said that Tanjung Dawai was still being negotiated even as Barisan’s candidates were named.
Barisan’s Umno and Amanah, a party under Pakatan, were both keen to contest in the seat, said sources.
“Many rounds of negotiations were held before it was decided that Tanjung Dawai goes to Barisan.
“But at the end of the day, Barisan and Pakatan came to this agreement,” a source said.
Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the coalition and Pakatan had reached an agreement for the former to contest in Tanjung Dawai.
“We would like to thank Pakatan chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as well as Amanah for agreeing to Barisan contesting in the seat,” he said when contacted.
While PAS had won the seat in elections held in 2018 and 2008, Barisan had won in Tanjung Dawai in 1986, 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2004.
In GE14, PAS’ Hanif Ghazali won the seat with a majority of 952 votes in a three-cornered fight against Barisan and Pakatan.
In the six state elections, Barisan will contest 15 seats in Kedah, Terengganu (27), Kelantan (31), Penang (six), Selangor (12) and Negri Sembilan (17).
