Zahid orders Perak BN to get cracking even before EC fixes by-election date

Summary

• Perak BN will not wait for EC’s announcement to start its activities for the Ayer Kuning by-election.

• Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad says he has received instructions from BN chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to begin preparations.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has told Perak BN to immediately commence activities and programmes in Ayer Kuning.

This is following the death of incumbent Ayer Kuning assemblyperson Ishsam Shahruddin from a heart attack yesterday.

“This morning, I received a call from the deputy prime minister, who is also the Umno president (Zahid),” said Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad, who is Perak BN chairperson.

“We discussed the matter and decided that we will not wait for the EC’s announcement.

“Instead, we will immediately begin programmes and activities focused on winning the by-election,” he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

Saarani was speaking to reporters outside the An-Nur Mosque, where the funeral prayer for the late Ishsam was held.

Perak state assembly speaker Zahir Abdul Khalid said the EC will be notified of the Ayer Kuning seat vacancy as early as Tuesday.

A by-election must be held within 60 days from the date the EC receives the official notice of vacancy.

The last by-election in Perak was for the Slim state seat on Aug 29, 2020.

Ishsam, 59, died after collapsing following a friendly football match at Bandaraya Stadium in Georgetown, Penang yesterday.

His remains were brought back to his residence around 12.30am after an autopsy at Penang Hospital.

His body was then taken to Masjid An-Nur for funeral rites before being laid to rest at Rapat Setia Muslim cemetery.

Isham, a former Perak state footballer, made his political debut in the 2022 general election.

The Umno candidate defeated four others to win the state seat by 2,213 votes.

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