VIP guest: Anwar posing for a picture with local residents at an eatery in Warisan Sentral, Kota Warisan, Sepang. — Bernama
SEPANG: The unity government’s candidate for the upcoming Sungai Bakap by-election will be unveiled next week, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister, who is also Pakatan chairman, said they had shortlisted the names, with many having the qualifications to contest for the seat.
“We will announce it next week,” he told reporters at Masjid Sultan Abdul Samad here yesterday.
Pressed on the exact date of the announcement, Anwar, who is also the PKR president, said party deputy president Rafizi Ramli would be making the announcement.
“I have asked Rafizi to announce, and pick a suitable date next week.
“Normally, the process is once we have discussed it between the party leadership, it will be conveyed to the top leadership of Pakatan and Barisan Nasional leaders within the unity government,” explained Anwar.
Asked whether the candidate would be selected from PKR, he said so far, that was the decision.
“However, we will finalise it during our meeting,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional said it would respect Pakatan’s tradition to contest in the Sungai Bakap by-election and pledged support to help its candidate win the polls.
Its secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir said if the candidate were to come from a PH component party, BN is committed to provide unwavering support to ensure that the unity government’s candidate secure victory in the by-election.
“All parties in this government will provide solid cooperation to ensure the success of our candidate,” he said after attending the launch of the food security blueprint in Universiti Putra Malaysia.
“Once it has been agreed upon, it will be announced. We understand that the area will go to one of the candidates from the unity government.
“We acknowledge the area’s previous affiliation with PH, so we will respect that tradition. The most important thing is the spirit of unity,” noted Zambry.
The Sungai Bakap state seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff, on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.
Nor Zamri, who was Nibong Tebal PAS chief, contested the state elections against Pakatan Harapan candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose from PKR in August last year and won with a majority of 1,563 after securing 15,433 votes.
The Election Commission (EC) has set the polling day for the Sungai Bakap state by-election in Penang on Saturday, July 6.
EC deputy chairman Azmi Sharom said the nomination and early voting are set for June 22 (Saturday) and July 2 (Tuesday) respectively.
The Sungai Bakap by-election will be the eighth by-election held after the 15th General Election in November 2022.
He said the by-election would cost RM2.1mil, with 522 election workers to be appointed.
