PKR is not fielding a candidate for the Chini by-election next month, said Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The PKR secretary-general said the decision was made after considering the safety and health of voters in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He noted that the coronavirus has not been fully contained.

“At the same time, in the context of the ‘new normal’ standard operating procedures (SOPs) being drafted in the run-up to the election, the safety and health of voters are still a concern,” he said today in a statement.

He said the ban on public gatherings of more than 20 people would impact campaigning while the guidelines for door-to-door campaigns were uncertain.

Afterr taking these factors into consideration, he said the Pakatan Harapan presidential council decided not to field a candidate for the July 4 by-election in Pahang. – June 6, 2020.