Zahid predicts easy win for Harapan candidate in Pulai

 

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is confident the Pakatan Harapan candidate representing the Harapan-BN alliance can easily win the Pulai parliamentary by-election on Sept 9.

Zahid, the deputy prime minister said this is because the former Pulai MP, the late Salahuddin Ayub, enjoyed good ties with Umno members in the constituency.

The Pulai Umno division is also working well with Harapan grassroots.

“For Pulai, I am very confident (of victory) because Pulai Umno division chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed has good relations with our Harapan friends although just nine months ago we were rivals.

“But now, he has lined up several programmes to unite the two machineries. Salahuddin also frequently interacted with Umno members, so Pulai will be quite easy," he said.

Zahid told this to reporters after the end of nominations for the by-election at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Bahru today.

In the 15th general election, Salahuddin retained the seat on the Harapan ticket, and the combined votes received by Harapan and BN then exceeded 94,000. At the same time, the PN candidate obtained only about 20,000 votes.

Time to adjust

Zahid said the unity government component parties had now reached their best level of cooperation.

This was evident during the nomination process for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections this morning.

“However, we have to admit that the grassroots need a bit of time (to adjust), and during the campaign period we hope to put up a strong unity government machinery,” he said.

Asked to comment on Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Muhammad Nor's claim that the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections would mark the burial of Umno, Zahid, the Umno president said he would not respond to such provocations.

The Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections will see three-cornered fights involving Harapan, PN and independent candidates.

For the Pulai seat, Harapan candidate Suhaizan Kaiat, a former Johor state assembly speaker, will face PN's Zulkifli Jaafar and independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi, who is using the key symbol.

The two seats fell vacant following Salahuddin's death on July 23. Salahuddin was Amanah's deputy president and domestic trade and cost of living minister.

The Election Commission has set Sept 5 for early voting and Sept 9 for polling for both by-elections.

- Bernama