GEORGE TOWN: A PKR candidate will stand in the Sungai Bakap by-election, backed by the component parties in the unity government.

State Pakatan Harapan chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the component parties in the Unity Government unanimously supported the PKR candidate.

“No other party asked to contest there as it was previously a PKR-contested seat. Even before recommending candidates to the leadership, other parties showed their support for PKR. It was a straightforward decision,” he said during a press conference at the state DAP headquarters in Jalan Rangoon on Monday (June 3).

Chow, who is the Penang DAP chairman, was joined by Penang PKR chief Nurul Izzah Anwar, Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, and state Amanah chief Muhammad Faiz Fadzil.

He said the component parties in the Unity Government would unite their efforts to support the PKR candidate’s campaign during the upcoming Sungai Bakap by-election.

“This is the first time we will all work together in a by-election, but our almost year-long experience in the Unity Government has shown that it can be fruitful. We will work together to reclaim the Sungai Bakap seat, which we previously held for three terms with a PKR representative.

“We will in due time discuss the strategy and issues that need attention there,” he said.

It was reported on Sunday (June 2) that Penang PKR had proposed the names of five party members for consideration by party President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as candidates for the upcoming by-election in the Sungai Bakap state constituency.

Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, who is also Penang PKR State Leadership Council deputy chairman, said the state leadership received the names of potential candidates from its branches and division in Nibong Tebal.

The Sungai Bakap state seat became 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 last August and won with a majority of 1,563 votes after securing 15,433 votes.