Rafizi, Zambry to jointly head Harapan-BN's Sg Bakap campaign

The government coalition has appointed PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli and Umno supreme council member Zambry Abdul Kadir to lead the campaign for the Sungai Bakap by-election.

In a statement today, Unity Government Secretariat chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the decision was made after a meeting between top leaders from Pakatan Harapan and BN at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya, today.

“For the purpose of coordinating and standardising the machinery’s work for the by-election, the meeting decided to appoint Rafizi and Zambry as the joint chairpersons of the unity government’s Election Machinery Central Committee,” he said.

Meanwhile, Penang PKR deputy chief Mohamad Abdul Hamid and Penang Umno chief Musa Sheikh Fadzir were appointed joint chairpersons to head the coalition’s by-election operations.

Asyraf also said the government coalition will announce its candidate for the by-election tomorrow at 9pm.

On June 3, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Harapan and BN leadership had already agreed to field a PKR candidate for the Sungai Bakap state seat.

Last week, Zamby, who is also the BN secretary-general, admitted that Sungai Bakap is PKR’s traditional seat and they are set to make way for their coalition partner to contest in the upcoming by-election.

Previously, the Election Commission announced that the Sungai Bakap state constituency in Penang will go to the polls on July 6 for a by-election.

This followed the passing of incumbent assemblyperson Nor Zamri Latiff from PAS on May 24 after suffering a stomach inflammation.

The nomination day when candidates will file their papers has been set for June 22.

Voters who qualify can cast their ballots earlier during the early voting process on July 2.

In the previous state election, Nor Zamri secured a comfortable 1,563 vote majority over Harapan candidate Nurhidayah Che Ros.

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