Padang Serai polls: Harapan makes last-minute candidate switch

Just hours after naming lawyer Mohamad Sofee Razak as the candidate for the Padang Serai election in Kedah, Pakatan Harapan has made a last-minute switch.

Reporters were informed about the change in the Kedah PKR Whatsapp group at about 1am this morning.

It is believed the new candidate - Shamsul Anuar Abdullah - was picked following a commotion involving the Padang Serai PKR division which was displeased with the previous choice.

Shamsul is from the Padang Serai PKR branch.

Before this, former Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusof was proposed as a candidate but Shamsul’s name cropped up this morning.

Last night, Harapan vice-president Salahuddin Ayub announced Sofee’s candidacy during an event at Taman Selasih in Kulim.

Sofee is the Kedah PKR secretary.

Also present were Kedah Harapan chief Mahfuz Omar, Bukit Selambau assemblyperson R Summugam, Padang Serai Amanah chief Abdul Razak Salleh and veteran unionist Abdullah Sani.

The by-election was called following the death of the former Harapan incumbent M Karupaiya on Nov 16, three days before the 15th general election.

The Election Commission subsequently set Dec 7 as the polling date for the Padang Serai seat.

The nomination will be held tomorrow at the Kulim Hitech Sports Complex.

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