The Election Commission (EC) has set May 23 for nominations and May 31 as the polling day for the Penanti by-election.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof made the announcement at a press conference at the EC office Monday.
The seat fell vacant following the resignation of former Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as the state assemblyman on April 16.
Umno was expected to discuss if it should contest the seat at the party's supreme council meeting last Friday. However the matter has now been passed to the party's political bureau - headed by Najib – to decide.
Immediately after the seat fell vacant, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had said that it was possible for BN to give this by-election a miss, if there was consensus among its coalition partners.
However, Umno division leaders in Penanti and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad have called for the party to contest the seat which falls within the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, held by Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In the March general election last year, Mohammad Fairus won the Penanti seat with a majority of 2,219 votes by beating Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid of the BN.
The Star report here and Bernama's here.
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3 comments:
Tok mommy,
Do you think BN will put up a candidate and contest this by-election.
Citing "waste of money" is kiind of a lame excuse, dont you think?
Dear adik,
I think after having lost four of the five by-elections held since the GE a year ago, BN isn’t too keen to contest a seat which happens to be a PKR stronghold.
Also, the by-election certainly is going to be an uphill battle for BN but not for Pakatan. I dont think it (PKR) has any problem retaining the seat.
But I would expect Najib to field an Umno candidate all the same. If he did not, he would further invite criticism of cowardice.
Of course Pakatan will benefit should BN decide to skip the by-election. And that will not make the party’s rank and file happy.
As it is the local Umno leaders in Penanti and even Dr Mahathir have called the party to contest the seat.
However, nothing has been finalized. The decision whether to contest or not has been passed to the party’s political bureau which will meet soon according to Najib.
Should the biggest party be rash
And risk being severely trashed?
Running away...tail between legs
May be the better option to take!
Either way,
Its gonna be Pakatan's day!
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