PN, PH candidates to face off in Sungai Bakap state by-election in Penang
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PN candidate Abidin Ismail (left) and PH candidate Joohari Ariffin at the nomination centre on June 22.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
NIBONG TEBAL – The Sungai Bakap state by-election in Penang will see a straight fight between Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Abidin Ismail and Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Joohari Ariffin.
Mr Abidin, 56, from Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), arrived at the nomination centre at Dewan Serbaguna Jawi at about 9.15am accompanied by party nominator Abdul Rahman Hashim and seconder Amizan Ariffin.
Clad in a traditional Malay costume, he was jovial when he entered the hall to submit his nomination papers.
At South Seberang Perai Mosque, thousands of PN supporters converged as early as 6am.
Mr Abidin arrived at the mosque at about 8am, where he performed “solar hajat” (prayer for help) with the PN supporters.
Several PN leaders – Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, and Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor – were also present.
Earlier, Dr Joohari arrived at the nomination centre with his supporters.
The former teacher smiled as he entered the nomination centre with the support of the PH leaders who walked with him to the centre.
Dr Joohari, 60, is the former director of Aminuddin Baki Institute (Northern Branch) and holds a PhD from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
The PH candidate was joined by his nominator, Nibong Tebal Parti Keadilan Rakyat branch secretary S. Galaimani, and seconder, Penang Umno Women’s chief Ameera Nadia Mohd Shafiee.
He has worked closely with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, the Nibong Tebal MP, handling parliamentary and party matters.
Thousands of supporters clad in PH gear bearing the alliance flag waited outside the Nibong Tebal Umno branch office and chanted “Cikgu Joohari” as they marched towards the centre, which is about 200m away.
A total of 39,279 registered voters, 39,222 ordinary voters, and 57 police personnel are eligible to vote in the by-election.
The Election Commission has set July 2 as the early voting date, while July 6 is polling day for the by-election that needs to be held following the death of the incumbent, Mr Nor Zamri Latiff, on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.
In the Penang state election in August 2023, Mr Nor Zamri, also the Nibong Tebal PAS president, defeated PH candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose with a majority of 1,563 votes. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
