KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu will defend the Nenggiri state seat, even though any Perikatan Nasional (PN) component, including PAS, is free to submit names for consideration prior to the by-election’s nomination day.
Kelantan Bersatu chief Datuk Kamarudin Md Nor told Scoop that any party can nominate candidates for the PN leadership to consider, but Nenggiri was held by Bersatu following last year’s state election.
His division will put up three names by the end of next week for the party leadership to decide.
“I have no issue if PAS wants to suggest people for the candidacy. That is not against the law. Any party in PN can do that but the final decision lies with the coalition’s top leadership.”
Kamarudin said the three men Bersatu is considering are from its Gua Musang division and Nenggiri locals.
“We want to have a winnable candidate who can also provide the best service to the people.”
In 2023, PN used the PAS logo and name for all its candidates in the Kelantan and Terengganu state elections.
Previously, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said PN leaders would have to discuss the name selection and there were requests to contest from its Gua Musang division.
This ran contrary to what Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said. Muhyiddin, who is also PN chairman, said it was decided that Bersatu would field a candidate as the party won the seat last year.
The Election Commission has set the Nenggiri by-election for August 17, with the date of candidate nomination and early voting on August 3 and 13, respectively.
This comes after Mohd Azizi Abu Naim lost his Bersatu membership, and Kelantan Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah declared the state seat vacant on June 19.
Regardless of who PN chooses to field, the candidate is most likely headed for a showdown with Umno.
Umno will be putting up a candidate in the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan following the seat vacancy, said its president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He added that Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was appointed as the by-election director, while Kelantan Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Jazlan would be the by-election operations director. – July 1, 2024