PAKATAN Harapan (PH) has the advantage in the Johor by-elections and with the backing of its strategic alliance partner, Barisan Nasional (BN) the chances of winning are greater, said DAP secretary general Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
Johor is holding the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Simpang Jeram state legislative assembly (DUN) by-elections next month in replacement of former domestic trade and cost of living minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub who passed away last month.
Loke stated that the confidence was based on PH being the incumbent in the seat and would also be helped by UMNO-Barisan Nasional (BN) voters.
“I am confident we have the potential for us to defend the two seats because both are incumbent seats and the late Salahuddin was also a highly respected and admired leader in addition to having a pretty good track record.
“These two seats are also mixed seats and of course PH has an advantage. In addition, we have the support of Johor UMNO which we know Johor is UMNO’s stronghold,” he added.
Meanwhile, BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed confidence in the PH candidate’s victory in the Pulai parliamentary by-election.
Citing good relations between the late MP Salahuddin and UMNO members, Zahid noted collaborative efforts between the Pulai UMNO division and PH grassroots. In the previous general election, PH and BN’s combined votes surpassed 94,000, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) garnered about 20,000.
Zahid highlighted strengthened cooperation among unity government component parties during nominations for Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, aiming for a robust campaign machinery.
With this, Zahid predicted an easy win. The Pulai parliamentary seat and the Simpang Jeram DUN will witness a three-cornered competition in the by-election of the area.
Former speaker of Simpang Jeram DUN Suhaizan Kayat is the PH candidate in the parliamentary seat. Suhaizan who is also Amanah Johor vice chairman and Amanah Pulai division head will be opposed by PN candidate Zulkifli Jaafar.
The Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association (PKPKL) president Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi is an independent candidate in the Pulai seat.
In the Simpang Jeram DUN constituency, the PH coalition nominated former Muar Municipal Council (MPM) engineer Nazri Abd Rahman as their candidate. PN fielded surgeon Dr Mazri Yahya, while S Jegananthan is an independent candidate. – Aug 27, 2023
Main photo credit: Utusan
