PKR to field ex-education institute head for Sungai Bakap poll?

June 11, 2024

PKR to field ex-education institute head for Sungai Bakap poll?

PETALING JAYA: PKR is expected to field the former head of an education institute as its candidate for the upcoming Sungai Bakap by-election, according to a source.

The source said Joohari Ariffin, a former director of the Aminuddin Baki Institute’s northern branch, was among the main candidates under consideration due to his membership of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim).

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim used to be the president of Abim, which was founded in 1972.

Joohari fits the bill as PKR is expected to field a professional with a strong religious background, said the source.

“The party might be looking for someone with a religious background because our opponents are from PAS,” he told FMT.

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Another source said the PKR leadership had finalised the party’s candidate for the poll, and that the individual was a normal party member who had recently retired as a civil servant.

“The candidate is a professional, government retiree with a PhD. The person doesn’t hold any important posts in the party and is a Sungai Bakap local. They also have a religious background, the whole family is religious.”

The source added that Penang PKR women’s chief Nurhidayah Che Rose, who contested the seat during the state election last August but lost to the late Nor Zamri Latiff, would not be chosen despite making the shortlist of candidates.

“The leadership wanted a new candidate. The candidate that will be announced tomorrow is contesting for the first time.”

Nurhidayah and Nibong Tebal PKR chief Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah were previously said to be among the candidates in contention to represent Pakatan Harapan in the Sungai Bakap by-election.

Nurhidayah lost to Perikatan Nasional’s Zamri by a majority of 1,563 votes during the state polls last year, while Pritpal held the seat from 2018 to 2023.

Zamri, of PAS, died from stomach inflammation at the Seberang Jaya Hospital in Penang on May 24.

Sungai Bakap voters will go to the polls on July 6.