PETALING JAYA: A Penang Umno leader says the party’s grassroots want Pakatan Harapan to make way for Barisan Nasional in contesting the Sungai Bakap state seat by-election.
The leader, who requested anonymity, said the grassroots are hoping for the unity government to nominate a BN candidate as an acknowledgment of Umno’s contributions to the government, including supporting Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister.
They also want PH to make way for BN in the Sungai Bakap by-election to reciprocate Umno’s help in securing victory for PH’s Pang Sock Tao in the recent Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
“Of the 16 Umno branches under the Sungai Bakap state constituency, almost all agree that Umno should contest in this by-election on behalf of the unity government,” the leader told FMT.
The leader said this move is also a strategy for the unity government to regain the support of the Malays, who swung their support for the Perikatan Nasional candidate in the state election in August last year.
“In the last state election, some Umno supporters found it hard to back the PH candidate. However, if we now nominate a Malay candidate from Umno, we may regain their support,” said the leader.
The seat is vacant following the death of Nibong Tebal PAS chief Nor Zamri Latiff, who defeated PH’s Nurhidayah Che Rose with a 1,563-vote majority in a straight fight last August.
Zamri died on May 24 after being admitted to Seberang Jaya Hospital on May 1 for stomach inflammation.
Earlier today, Bernama reported that the coalition parties in the unity government in Penang are expected to hold a meeting this week to discuss preparations for the by-election.
Penang DAP chairman and chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said he understood that PKR, one of the coalition parties, had started meetings in preparation for the polls.
Chow said the state DAP would leave it to PKR to choose the candidate as the party had contested the seat in the August election.
