Looking to bank on green wave

In recap: Johor Perikatan chief Sahruddin (in blue) at a press conference after chairing the meeting here.

KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional has decided a Bersatu candidate will stand for the Pulai parliamentary by-election in Johor, while its coalition partner PAS will field a representative for the state by-election in Simpang Jeram, said a source.

The source added that the coalition’s top leadership decided this to ensure they fielded only winnable candidates for the two by-elections.

“They are banking on the wave of the Malay support to continue in these two by-elections,” said the source.

The death of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, 61, on July 23 triggered the two by-elections.

The Amanah deputy president was the Pakatan Harapan incumbent for both seats.

PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, when met by the media after the PAS central committee meeting at the party headquarters here yesterday, said the choice of candidates for both by-elections has been discussed and an official announcement will be made by top leaders soon.

“Our choice of candidates is based on their winnability. As the wave (the green wave) has made its way into Selangor and Negri Sembilan in the last state elections, we are sure it will also hit Johor, contrary to what our opponents think,” said Abdul Hadi.

Nomination day for the Simpang Jeram state seat and Pulai parliamentary seat by-elections has been set for Aug 26.

Polling will be on Sept 9 while early voting will be on Sept 5.

In the last general election in 2018, Salahuddin won the Pulai parliamentary seat by a whopping 20,989 majority against Barisan Nasional bigwig Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, who only managed to get 23,026 votes and Perikatan’s Loh Kah Yong, who garnered 14,432 votes.

During the same election, in the Simpang Jeram state seat, Salahuddin managed to whisk through with a 2,399 majority against Perikatan’s Zarul Salleg, who garnered 6,350 votes and Barisan’s Lokman Dom who got 6,062 votes.Meanwhile, Johor Perikatan chief Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said the coalition chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, will name both their candidates next week.

He said 15 names had been submitted to the central leadership and two would be shortlisted.

The state Perikatan chief said among the 15 names submitted to the central leadership is a woman.

Sahruddin, also state Bersatu chairman, said this to reporters after chairing a meeting on the by-elections.

“We can confirm the two candidates are Johoreans and professionals,” he added.

Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu had announced that former Johor state assembly speaker Suhaizan Kaiat is set to contest the Pulai seat.

Suhaizan, 50, was Salahuddin’s political secretary.

Bakri Amanah deputy chief Nazri Abdul Rahman, 56, would contest the Simpang Jeram state seat. Sahruddin said he knew both the Amanah candidates and had worked with them when they were part of Pakatan.

“The most important thing is for the people to evaluate who would best represent and serve them. Our candidates are also well-known,” he added.