JOHOR BAHRU – Candidates for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections have started their respective campaigns as soon as nomination ended at 10am today.
Johor Amanah vice-chairman Suhaizan Kaiat, who is contesting under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) ticket, said he will use the 14-day campaign period to listen to the people’s woes in a bid to win the seat on polling day on September 9.
Suhaizan, who is a seven-time candidate, believes that the strength of the PH-Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery can provide the impetus for his campaign, and enable PH to retain the seats which were previously held by the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
“This time around I am more inspired and confident (to win).. insya-Allah it will become a reality through the ballot papers on September 9.
“We (BN-PH) have never campaigned together in two big groups, this is the first time, especially facing this by-election in Johor,” he told reporters, after the nomination process at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim Johor Bahru, here today.
The Pulai parliamentary by-election will be a three-way contest, with Suhaizan facing Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Zulkifli Jaafar and independent candidate, Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association (PKPKL) president, Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi.
Meanwhile, Zulkifli, 50, who is contesting under the PN ticket, said, in addition to upholding his name and that of his party, he will also be shouldering the legacy of his mentor, Johor’s 16th menteri besar, the late Datuk Osman Sapian.
The Pulai Bersatu deputy chief, who is also a businessman, said that he will use his logistics and transport business experience to help raise the standard of living for the people through commercial means.
“Apart from that, I also want to focus on the well-being of the people, and address several matters which have been neglected in Pulai.”
Meanwhile, Samsudin, 47, who has adopted the same “key” symbol he used in the 2022 general election for the Putrajaya parliamentary seat, said his mission is to give voice to the people, particularly on issues related to the rising cost of living and corruption.
The list of candidates for the Pulai parliamentary by-election was announced by the Election Commission (EC) returning officer, Miswan Yunus.
The Simpang Jeram by-election will also witness a three-cornered battle, featuring Bakri Amanah deputy chief Nazri Abdul Rahman; PAS central committee member Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya; and independent candidate, businessman, S. Jeganathan.
Nazri, who has worked with the late Salahuddin, wants to conduct a clean and harmonious campaign without touching on any 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues.
“My intention is to not cause any provocation, and for everything to proceed smoothly and hopefully lead to a win.”
Mazri, 54, also hoped that the candidates and their respective party machinery would have a healthy campaign, and praised the EC for its smooth nomination process.
Independent candidate, Jeganathan, who is using the “elephant” logo, expressed the same desire to have a campaign free of any 3R-related issues, which could jeopardise racial harmony.
The Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats fell vacant following the death of incumbent Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was also Domestic Trade and Cost of Living minister on July 23.
Polling day for the by-elections will be held on Sept 9, with early voting on September 5.
Based on EC data, there are 166,653 eligible voters in the Pulai constituency and 40,379 voters in the Simpang Jeram constituency. – August 26, 2023