Harapan yet to decide on Mahkota condidate, leaders will meet today

The Pakatan Harapan presidential council has yet to decide which party will contest the Mahkota by-election for the coalition government.

Its secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim will convene a meeting with key leaders of the Harapan component parties this afternoon in Putrajaya to discuss the vacant state seat.

Saifuddin (above) emphasised that decisions regarding the party’s candidate should be handled through internal mechanisms, rather than public discussions.

“We will hold a meeting and make a decision based on that discussion. This process typically does not involve lower-level leadership openly expressing their views. It is managed internally.

“For instance, at 4pm, I will meet with Amanah president (Mohamad Sabu), DAP secretary-general (Anthony Loke), and the prime minister.

“Although it is uncertain whether the Mahkota seat issue will be discussed, I am confident that the discussion regarding candidates will be conducted through the appropriate party channels,” he said after a gathering with the Home Ministry at Dewan Millenium today.

The home minister said this in response to inquiries about Harapan’s stance, following the Kluang Amanah division’s request for the party to be given the chance to contest in Mahkota.

Recently, Kluang Amanah chief Mohd Zuhan Mohd Zain said that Amanah previously won the state seat in the 14th general election and also contested the 2022 state election.

The Mahkota seat became vacant following the death of its incumbent, Syarifah Azizah Syed Zain, of Umno.

In the Johor state polls held in March 2022, Syarifah won the seat representing BN with a majority of 5,166 votes.

Focus on Nenggiri

Saifuddin urged the party machinery to concentrate on the Nenggiri by-election, and not be swayed by PAS’s criticism of DAP’s lack of campaigning there.

He also emphasised the need for the party machinery to focus on ensuring the victory of BN candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, with only a few days remaining before the end of the campaigning period.

It’s a straight fight between Azmawi and Perikatan Nasional’s Mohd Rizwadi Ismail in Nenggiri where voters will head to the ballot box on Aug 17.

- Bernama

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