Perikatan to field Bersatu candidate for Nenggiri by-election, says Muhyiddin

NIBONG TEBAL: Perikatan Nasional will be represented by a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) candidate in the Nenggiri state by-election on Aug 17.

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this decision had been made earlier as Nenggiri is a Bersatu seat.

“We have already started mobilising our machinery for the initial phase, and other tasks will follow, including identifying the most suitable candidate from Bersatu,” he told reporters after attending a tea session with the community in the Taman Puteri Gunong area in Simpang Ampat on Thursday (June 27).

Also present was Sungai Bakap by-election Perikatan candidate Abidin Ismail.

The Election Commission (EC) has set polling for the Nenggiri by-election for Aug 17, with nominations and early voting scheduled for Aug 3 and Aug 13, respectively.

Prior to this, Kelantan State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah announced that the state seat would be vacant starting June 19.

The casual vacancy for Nenggiri was announced after the Kelantan State Assembly received a written notice in accordance with Clause (3) of Article 31A of the Kelantan Constitution from Nenggiri state assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim on June 13.

Regarding the decision of former Jeli MP and Bersatu leader Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who in a statement on Thursday (June 27) reaffirmed his decision to quit active politics, Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan chairman, said the party respects the decision.

Mustapa, in the statement, said he had resigned as a member and from all positions in Bersatu on Sept 30, 2023, and remained firm in his decision to retire from politics after opting not to contest in the 15th general election. — Bernama