PUTRAJAYA: The Pakatan Harapan candidate for the upcoming Sungai Bakap by-election will be unveiled next week, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister, who is also Pakatan chairman, said that they have shortlisted the names, with many of them qualified to contest for the seat.

“God-willing, we will announce it next week,” he told reporters at the Masjid Sultan Abdul Samad, KLIA, here, on Friday (June 7).

Asked about the exact dates of the announcement, Anwar, who is also the PKR president, said that the party deputy president Rafizi Ramli would make the necessary announcement.

“I have asked Rafizi to announce, and pick a suitable date next week,” added Anwar.

“Normally, the process is, we have discussed it between the party leadership, but it will be conveyed to the top leadership of Pakatan and Barisan Nasional leaders within the unity government,” explained Anwar.

The Sungai Bakap state seat is vacant following the death of its incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff, on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.

Nor Zamri, who was Nibong Tebal Pas chief, contested the state elections against Pakatan Harapan candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose from PKR, in August last year and won with a majority of 1,563 after securing 15,433 votes.