PENANG Bersatu’s Penaga state candidate in Kepala Batas found himself a bankrupt overnight and disqualified as an election candidate.

Yaakob Osman said he last checked his financial status online yesterday and found he was “cleared and clean”.

“It’s the practice in Bersatu to have its candidates check their statuses. But today, I am declared a bankrupt. How did it happen? I was never a bankrupt before.

“If I had a bankruptcy record, I would not have wasted my time. If we had discovered this problem earlier, Pakatan Harapan could have picked another candidate.

“It is ‘sayang’ (wasted opportunity). Penaga is a seat with potential. Now there is no salvaging the situation. Nomination is closed,” he said.

Yaakob, who is the younger brother of Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman, said he will focus on helping his party’s candidates in the seats they are contesting.

In Johor, Bukit Pasir Bersatu candidate Pizi Jihat was disqualified because he is a bankrupt which Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin disputed.

Penaga is a BN-held seat. Incumbent Mohd Zain Ahmad won by 1,231 votes in 2013.

With Yaakob disqualified, Penaga will see a straight fight between Mohd Zain Ahmad from BN and PAS’ Yusni Mat Piah. – April 28, 2018.