JOHOR BARU: Muda, which has been accused of splitting votes in the recent state polls, has decided not to field a candidate in the coming Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections and will instead support the candidates from Amanah.
The decision not to stand, said the party’s political bureau, was made out of respect for the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was the elected representative for both the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats.
“As an individual, Salahuddin was a person with great merit who had contributed much, not only to friends but also to the country we love.
“Muda would like to wish good luck to those who will be contesting, especially Amanah. May Salahuddin’s legacy continue,” it said in a statement here yesterday.
Johor Muda chief Azrol Rahani said the state Muda would be supporting the two Amanah candidates in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections.
“We have great respect for Salahuddin, who played an instrumental role and gave us good advice when we first wanted to set up Muda in Johor,” he added.
Muda made its debut in the Johor state election in March last year, during which they contested in seven seats and won one, which is Puteri Wangsa, through its deputy president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz.
They also contested six parliamentary seats in the 15th General Election in November last year, during which only its president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman successfully defended the Muar seat.
The party also contested 19 seats during the recently concluded six state elections, failing to win a single one and seeing all their candidates lose their deposits.
On Saturday, Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced that former Johor state speaker Suhaizan Kaiat would be contesting in Pulai, while Bakri Amanah deputy chief Nazri Abdul Rahman would take on the Simpang Jeram state seat.
Nomination day for the by-elections has been set for Aug 26, with polling fixed for Sept 9 and early voting on Sept 5.
Salahuddin, who was the elected representative for both seats, died on July 23 due to a brain haemorrhage. He was 61.
He was the Amanah deputy president and had served as the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister.
