Penang PKR chief Mansor Othman has announced that Badrul Hisham Shahrin is its candidate for the Sungai Acheh state seat in the coming general election.

Also known as Chegubard, he is the chairperson of NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia.

NONE It was an open secret that PAS and PKR have been squabbling over the rural Malay seat in the Nibong Tebal constituency over the last few months.

Indeed there was speculation that PAS Parit Buntar incumbent MP Mujahid Rawa Yusuff was in the running.

But Mansor said he was happy to announce that PAS and PKR Penang had resolved the seat negotiations for Sungai Acheh with the PKR man getting the nod.

"We believe Chegubard ( left ) will bring victory to Pakatan and changes to the Sungai Acheh constituency," he added.

Chegubard had contested against Khairy Jamaluddin in Rembau in the 2008 election and lost narrowly.

Mansor's statement comes a day before state PAS leadership announces its candidates in Pongsu Seribu tonight.

In 2008, Umno's candidate Mahmud Zakaria scraped through in Sungai Acheh with 250 votes against PKR's Azhar Ahmad.

Strong family ties

When contacted, Chegubard said he accepts the party's decision to contest in the seat, more so in an area where he has strong family ties.

azlan "I feel this is an important mission to strengthen the voice and roles of youth in the state administration," he said.

Chegubard said his father- in-law was one of the founders of the party in Sungai Acheh, and he has many friends in the constituency located in Seberang Perai Selatan (south).

"I am confident that, with the support of my family, friends, comrades in PAS and DAP, I will be able do my best. My mission is to bring Sungai Acheh into the mainstream of Penang's development," he added.

Chegubard was to have been fielded in the Nibong Tebal Parliamentary seat when he was asked to start his political campaign in the area a year ago.

However, last November, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim announced Mansor as the candidate for the seat, creating some unhappiness among Chegubard's supporters.

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