Pakatan Harapan candidate for the Pulai seat Suhaizan Kayat (second from right) talking to the Indian community during a meet and greet at a temple here in Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: A voter turnout of at least 70% will boost Pakatan Harapan's chance of defending the Pulai seat, says its candidate for the parliamentary seat, Suhaizan Kayat.
He said getting a high voter turnout is the main challenge for Pakatan in its bid to defend the Pulai seat.
"We know that when it comes to a by-election, voter turnout will normally be low.
"If that is the case for this election, it will be more difficult for us to secure the seat. That is the main thing I am worried about," he told reporters when met after having a meet and greet with the Indian community at the Arulmigu Rajamariamman temple here on Wednesday (Aug 23).
"I hope to see a turnout of at least 70% in this election," he said, noting that voter turnout for the Pulai seat was at 71% in the previous general election in Nov 2022," he said.
The Johor Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) vice chairman said component parties under Pakatan and Barisan Nasional would be assisting him in encouraging more people to turn up to vote.
"Our counterparts in Pakatan will focus on assisting us in the Perling area while Umno is helping us in the Kempas area.
"Umno has about 18,000 supporters in Pulai, where a majority of them are in Kempas. Their assistance will be very helpful to us," he said.
He said that Pulai Umno division chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed had also given his full support to him as a candidate for the seat.
Asked to comment on Perikatan Nasional's candidate for the seat, Suhaizan said that he hopes to have a healthy competition.
"I do not know him personally but I have heard of him and we have crossed paths while campaigning in previous elections.
"For me, the important thing is for all candidates to respect each other and ensure that this election goes through the proper democratic process. In the end, the choice lies in the hands of voters," he said.
Earlier, Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that businessman Zulkifli Jaafar has been fielded for Pulai.
The 50-year-old is theParti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy Pulai division chief.
The Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections were called following the passing of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was holding both seats.
Nomination for the by-elections has been set for Aug 26, with polling on Sept 9, while early voting will be on Sept 5.
Salahuddin, who was Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy president and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, died on July 23 due to a brain haemorrhage. He was 61.
