Johor Amanah wants local to contest Pulai, Simpang Jeram by-elections

 

Aminolhuda Hassan said the state chapter will abide by the central leadership’s decision on the candidates for the two by-elections. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections should be a Johorean, says state Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan.

However, Aminolhuda said the state chapter will abide by the central leadership’s decision if it decides otherwise.

Aminolhuda did not deny there was a possibility that Amanah communications director Khalid Samad would be the candidate for the Pulai parliamentary by-election, Utusan Malaysia reported.

He said while it is up to the top leadership to decide, Johor Amanah still hoped for a local to be fielded as they would have the support of the party’s grassroots.

“The top leadership will make the final call. However, at the state level, we will shortlist candidates that we feel are deserving.

“What’s important is that we want a candidate who is a local and a Johorean,” said Aminolhuda, who is also Sri Gading MP.

Khalid, a former federal territories minister, was previously Shah Alam MP for three consecutive terms. In last year’s general election, he vied for the Titiwangsa seat but lost to Umno vice-president Johari Ghani.

The by-elections for the two seats will be held on Sept 9 following the death of Salahuddin Ayub, who was Amanah deputy president.

Salahuddin, who was also domestic trade and cost of living minister, died at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah in Alor Setar, Kedah, on July 23 after suffering a brain haemorrhage. He was 61.

He won the Pulai seat in the 15th general election (GE15) last November with a whopping 33,174-vote majority, defeating Barisan Nasional’s Nur Jazlan Mohamed and Perikatan Nasional’s Loh Kah Yong.

In the 2022 Johor state polls, he won the Simpang Jeram seat by a 2,399-vote majority in a four-cornered fight against PN’s Zahrul Salleh, BN’s Lokman Don and Pejuang’s Mahaizal Mahmor. - FMT