Pahang BN will not take the challenge for the Pelangai by-election lightly despite retaining the seat for a long time, said its chairperson Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

"In any situation, we have and will continue to work hard... we can't take it for granted," he said when met after launching a book titled ‘Budi Pujangga’ and the Pahang Museum Education Club at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (P) Methodist yesterday.

Apart from that, Wan Rosdy said that based on the recent retreat programme in Janda Baik, Bentong - the state party leadership agreed to submit a list of candidates to the top leadership, with six potential names submitted for consideration before announcing two or three days prior to the nomination day.

The Pelangai state constituency was the seat of former menteri besar Adnan Yaakob since 1986 and after he announced his retirement from politics last year, the seat was contested by the late Johari Harun in the 15th general election (GE15).

Johari, 53, was among the 10 who died in a plane crash in Bandar Elmina, Shah Alam in Selangor on Aug 17.

Accordingly, the Election Commission (EC) set the Pelangai by-election on Oct 7, with Sept 23 as nomination day while early voting will take place on Oct 3.

The late Johari Harun

In GE15, Johari won the seat with 7,308 votes, defeating Perikatan Nasional’s candidate Kasim Samat who received 3,260 votes.

Pakatan Harapan candidate Ahmed Wafiuddin Shamsuri garnered 2,031 votes while Pejuang candidate Isa Ahmad lost his deposit after getting only 65 votes.

Optimistic of Harapan’s support

Asked about BN's cooperation with Harapan in the Pelangai by-election, Wan Rosdy was optimistic that they will get good support from Harapan considering the spirit of the unity government.

"Cooperation with Pahang Harapan has existed since GE15 for the Tioman state seat," he said.

In GE15, voting for the Tioman state assembly could not take place on voting day, Nov 19, 2022, due to the death of PN candidate Md Yunus Ramli in the early hours of the same morning, causing it to be rescheduled for Dec 7, 2022.

Harapan then decided to give way to the BN candidate - taking into account the agreement between the two parties to establish a government at the federal and state levels.

- Bernama

Plane crash: Next-of-kin receive donation from PM

Plane crash: Next-of-kin receive donation from PM

Pahang PN confirms contesting in Pelangai by-election

Pahang PN confirms contesting in Pelangai by-election

Pelangai by-election on Oct 7

Pelangai by-election on Oct 7