KARMAINE Sardini, a businessman and an imam, will represent Pakatan Harapan in the Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election next month.

Johor Bersatu chief Muhyiddin Yassin today announced the 66-year-old candidate for the by-election campaign, which starts November 2.

Karmaine, who is the Tanjung Piai Bersatu division chief, is expected to face off the opposition, Barisan Nasional, which has yet to announce its candidate. 

Bersatu is one of four component parties in the Pakatan Harapan ruling coalition. The former Tanjung Piai MP, the late Md Farid Md Rafiq, was also from Bersatu.

Farid’s death had triggered the by-election.

Karmaine, who was born in Telok Kerang, Pontian, the constituency’s main town, is a businessman and architect.

He has worked as a technician and architect at Kuala Lumpur City Hall and as a temporary teacher in schools in Kota Tinggi and Pontian, Johor.  

He graduated from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) with diplomas in architecture.

Karmaine is married with four adult children and had once won an award for bapa mithali (most exemplary father) at the Johor Baru district level.   

During the announcement, Muhyiddin also listed Karmaine’s activities and credentials in some of Johor’s religious institutions.

Karmaine is an imam at a mosque in Taman Sutera, a board member and adviser for two Johor Baru tahfiz schools, and heads Bersatu’s religious affairs bureau.

In his speech, Karmaine thanked Pakatan for nominating him and appealed to all communities in Tg Piai – Malays, Chinese and Indians – to support the coalition.

Muhyiddin said Karmaine and Pakatan must focus on solving five key problems in Tg Piai – cost of living issues; pollution and environmental management; affordable housing; affordable healthcare; and, jobs for youth.

Muhyiddin, who is also home minister, said the government has approved RM21 million for 17 local infrastructure and public amenity projects in the constituency.

The allocation includes RM14 million that had been first requested by Farid.

An additional RM7 million was requested for other projects following consultations with residents. – October 28, 2019.