Mahkota polls: BN candidate to represent coalition govt - Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a BN candidate will represent the coalition government in the upcoming Mahkota by-election.

The BN chairperson said it is customary for the party that holds the state or parliamentary seat involved to contest it again.

He said further discussions and details will be addressed in the Umno political bureau and supreme council, after which the decision will be brought to the Unity Government Secretariat Council.

“We know that the Mahkota state seat is in a relatively promising area for us (BN) to continue winning, and of course, we want coordination with all parties in the coalition government.

“Usually, the understanding serving as the formula for the coalition government is that the seat held by any party should be contested again by that party.

“Therefore, I don’t want statements from leaders (of other parties), big or small, claiming any seats,” he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said this after attending the National Entrepreneur and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council Secretariat Meeting at the SME Corp Malaysia headquarters.

Also present were Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Ewon Benedick and his deputy, R Ramanan, SME Corp Malaysia chief executive officer Rizal Nainy, and chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin.

Earlier today, the Election Commission set Sept 28 as the polling day for the Mahkota by-election, with nomination day and early voting scheduled for Sept 14 and 24, respectively.

The Mahkota by-election is being called following the death of its assemblyperson, Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on Aug 2 at Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital in Kluang.

In the Johor state election in March 2022, Sharifah, who represented BN, won the seat with a majority of 5,166 votes.

- Bernama

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