KUANTAN: Pahang Barisan Nasional will take the challenge for the Pelangai state by-election seriously although they have held the seat for a long time, according to the chairman of the party, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
“We have and will continue to work hard in any situation… we cannot take it for granted,” he said after launching a book titled ‘Budi Pujangga’ and the Pahang Museum Education Club at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (P) Methodist here on Monday (Sept 11).
Additionally, Wan Rosdy mentioned that during a recent retreat programme in Janda Baik, Bentong, the state party leadership agreed to submit a list of candidates to the top leadership. Six potential names were submitted for consideration and will be announced two or three days prior to the nomination day.
The Pelangai state constituency was previously held by former Menteri besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob since 1986. After his retirement from politics last year, the seat was contested by Datuk Seri Johari Harun in the 15th general election (GE15).
Johari, 53, was among the 10 individuals who died in a plane crash in Bandar Elmina, Shah Alam in Selangor on August 17. Subsequently, the Election Commission (EC) scheduled the Pelangai by-election to be held on Oct 7, with Sept 23 as the candidate nomination day. Early voting will take place on Oct 3.
In GE15, Johari won with a majority of 4,048 votes, defeating Perikatan Nasional candidate Kasim Samat who received 3,260 votes, Pakatan Harapan candidate Ahmed Wafiuddin Shamsuri with 2,031 votes, and Pejuang candidate Isa Ahmad who received only 64 votes and lost his deposit.
Wan Rosdy expressed optimism about Barisan’s cooperation with Pakatan in the Pelangai by-election, believing that they will receive good support from Pakatan considering the spirit of the unity government.
“Cooperation with Pakatan Pahang has also existed since GE15 for the Tioman state seat,” he mentioned.
In GE15, voting for the Tioman state assembly could not take place on the scheduled voting day, Nov 19, 2022. This was due to the death of Perikatan candidate Md Yunus Ramli in the early hours of the same morning. As a result, the voting was rescheduled for Dec 7, 2022. Pakatan then decided to give way to the Barisan candidate in consideration of the agreement between the two parties to establish a government at the federal and state levels. – Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
