The Pakatan Harapan chairman, however, did not provide reasons for his absence from the campaign trail supporting PKR’s Joohari Ariffin.
When approached by reporters outside Masjid Al-Umm after Friday prayers, Anwar briefly confirmed his decision, stating, “No (I won’t), thank you.”
This is not the first by-election where Anwar has opted not to campaign. He also did not campaign for DAP’s Pang Sock Tao during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election on May 11.
The Sungai Bakap state seat by-election in Penang is scheduled for July 6, with nominations set to take place on June 22. The seat became vacant following the death of its assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff from stomach inflammation on May 24.
PKR initially won the Sungai Bakap seat from Barisan Nasional in the 2008 general election and successfully retained it for two more terms before losing it to Perikatan Nasional last year.
On Wednesday (June 13) night, PKR announced Aminuddin Baki Institute in Kedah former director Joohari Ariffin as their candidate for the by-election.
The Sungai Bakap constituency is demographically diverse, comprising 59.4% Malay voters, 22.5% Chinese, 17.4% Indians, and 0.7% from other ethnic backgrounds. – June 14, 2024
