KUALA LUMPUR: Political parties should consider staying out of contesting the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats out of respect for the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, says Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.
The Johor PKR chairman, however, said other parties can still contest in the Amanah stronghold seats in the spirit of democracy.
“If we are thinking on the basis of political stability, what we need to focus on is the issues faced by the country and the people, especially now that the six state elections have concluded.
“Maybe other political parties can consider sitting out on the by-elections.
“But this is a democratic country, so the parties are allowed to place their candidates specifically in the Pulai parliamentary seat, which various parties are eyeing to win,” he said when met with reporters at Bangsar South on Tuesday (Aug 22).
Syed Ibrahim said this when asked if other political parties should follow the footsteps of Muda in deciding not to contest in the by-elections in September.
Salahuddin, who was Amanah's deputy president and domestic trade and cost of living minister, died at age 61 on July 23 following surgery for a brain haemorrhage.
Syed Ibrahim also thanked Muda for staying out of the by-elections to honour the late Salahuddin, who was the incumbent for both the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats since 2018.
Muda, on Monday (Aug 21), announced its decision not to field candidates in the upcoming Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections.
On Saturday (Aug 19), Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced that former Johor state speaker Suhaizan Kaiat is set to stand in Pulai while Bakri Amanah deputy chief Nazri Abdul Rahman will contest in Simpang Jeram.
Nomination day for the by-elections has been set for Aug 26, with early voting on Sept 5 and polling on Sept 9.
