Sungai Bakap by-election starts today
NIBONG TEBAL: Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate representing the Unity Government, Dr Joohari Ariffin arrived at the Sungai Bakap State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Candidate Nomination Center at the By-Election (PRK) at the Jawi Multipurpose Hall, here, at 8.47am with more than 500 supporters. .
Berita Harian reported that those who had previously marched from the Nibong Tebal UMNO Office for about 100 meters (m) also chanted slogans of unity and reform before Joohari was brought in by Election Commission (SPR) officials to hand in the nomination form.
Also accompanying Joohari are PKR Secretary General Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Barisan Nasional (BN) Deputy Chairman who is also UMNO Deputy President, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, DAP Chairman, Lim Guan Eng and AMANAH Strategic Director, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The candidate nomination center for the Sungai Bakap by-election opens at 9 am and candidates are given an hour until 10 am to submit nomination forms.
After that, the Election Management Officer, Khairulnizam Hashim will announce the names of eligible candidates at 11 am.
As of yesterday, the Election Commission (SPR) informed that six nomination forms had already been sold.
The EC has set the early voting day for the Sungai Bakap state by-election on July 2 while the voting day is July 6, with the campaign going on for 14 days starting today until 11.59pm on July 5.
The Sungai Bakap state assembly by-election was held following the death of its incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff, on May 24 due to inflammation in the stomach.
Based on the Electoral Register as of May 24, a total of 39,279 people are eligible to fulfill their responsibilities in the by-election involving 39,222 ordinary voters and 57 police personnel.
A total of 552 officers were appointed to manage the PRK process while more than 600 police personnel were assigned to maintain security.
The Sungai Bakap state seat was won by Nor Zamri, who is also PAS President Nibong Tebal, in the Penang State Election last August after defeating PH candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose with a majority of 1,563 votes.
This is the eighth by-election after the 15th General Election which previously saw the Kuala Terengganu (Terengganu) Parliamentary by-election; Simpang Jeram state assembly by-election and Pulai (Johor) parliamentary by-election; Pelangai (Pahang) state assembly by-election; Jepak (Sarawak) state assembly by-election; The Kemaman (Terengganu) Parliamentary by-election and the Kuala Kubu Baharu (Selangor) State Assembly by-election.