Pakatan fields caretaker MB in Umno stronghold for Negri polls
KUALA PILAH: Caretaker Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun has been moved from his traditional stronghold of Sikamat to Linggi for the 16th state election, which will be held on Aug 1.
Aminuddin, who is state Pakatan Harapan chairman, previously represented Sikamat, which he had held for four consecutive terms since 2008.
The announcement was made by Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the coalition’s candidate announcement ceremony for the Negri Sembilan election at Dataran Melang here last night.
The Prime Minister said the state Pakatan leadership would be able to have a stronger working relationship with the Federal Government if given the mandate to lead the state government again.
“I am certain Aminuddin will do an excellent job if given the chance to lead again.
“He will also be able to work much better with the Federal Government so that we can together ensure no one is left behind in mainstream development.
“All he will have to do is to call or send a team (to meet me),” he said in his speech.
Aminuddin’s political secretary Nor Azman Mohamad will replace Aminuddin in Sikamat.
Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Isa Abdul Samad held the Linggi seat from 1978 to 2004 and the seat has remained under Barisan.
Also announced as a candidate was DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who will defend the Chennah state seat that he has held since 2013.
PKR will contest 16 seats in the state polls, followed by DAP (11) and Amanah (nine).
In the August 2023 polls, DAP contested 11 seats followed by PKR (six) and Amanah (two).
The Pakatan parties had previously formed an electoral pact with Barisan Nasional under the unity government cooperation.
In the last state polls, Pakatan won 17 of 19 seats it contested.
