We are confident PN candidate won't switch camps if elected, Peja says

 

KKB BY-ELECTION | Bersatu is confident that Perikatan Nasional candidate Khairul Azhari Saut will not switch his alliance to the Selangor government if he wins the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

The party’s deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu said this when asked whether its candidates are asked to sign statutory declarations to pledge not to switch camps if elected.

“He (Khairul) has taken his oath. We are confident with the candidate we have chosen.

“We are confident that he will not ‘jump’ if he gets elected,” Faizal (above) told Malaysiakini.

The party previously faced a crisis when six of its MPs pledged support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The six are Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjung Karang), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

In addition, Selat Kelang assemblyperson Abdul Rashid Asari backed Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari in the state legislative assembly.

Khairul is Hulu Selangor Bersatu’s acting chief. The 54-year-old businessperson is facing a challenge from Pakatan Harapan candidate Pang Sock Tao, 31, who is an aide to Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.

‘Victory within reach’

Two other candidates who are also throwing their hats into the ring this time are independent Nyau Xe Yin, 27, and Hafizah Zainudin of Parti Rakyat Malaysia.

PN’s Kuala Kubu Baharu candidate Khairul Azhari Saut

Earlier, Selangor PN chairperson Azmin Ali said he took the placement of the coalition’s candidate as number one in the ballot paper, as a good sign.

“This is a good start for Kuala Kubu Baharu voters. I urge them to not look at any other numbers when they take the ballot paper.

“Just cross next to number one (candidate),” he said.

“I foresee that victory is within our reach, and our candidate has also pledged that if he is elected, he will do his best to serve the constituency,” Azmin added.

The by-election campaign kicked off upon the completion of the nomination process this morning. Voting is on May 11.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election is held following the demise of its incumbent Lee Kee Hiong, who held the seat since 2013.

Permatang assemblyperson Nurul Syazwani Moh told Malaysiakini that she hoped women voters would vote for PN in the polls.

“During my past week here, I conducted house-to-house checks. I found many women complaining about the rising cost of living.

“Hence, I see that Kuala Kubu Baharu voters, especially women, are unhappy with the state and federal governments,” she claimed.

Kuala Kubu Baharu is a mixed seat, with 49.3 percent of its 40,226 registered voters being Malay, Chinese (30.6 percent), Indians (17.9 percent), and others (2.2 percent). - Mkini