THE Election Commission (EC) will hold a special meeting on Friday to discuss a new date for the Padang Serai parliamentary election after the death of Pakatan Harapan candidate M. Karupaiya today. 

“We send our condolences to the family of the deceased for their loss,” EC secretary Indera Ikmalrudin Ishak said in a statement.

“The EC has received the election writ from the Padang Serai returning officer, which stated the death of the candidate.

“The EC will be holding a special meeting on Friday to discuss new dates pertaining to an election in Padang Serai parliamentary seat. A press release will be issued after the meeting.”

This means voters in Padang Serai will not be casting their ballot on Saturday when the nation holds its 15th general election.

Earlier today, PKR’s Karupaiya died after being in hospital for three days. 

He was also the incumbent MP for the seat.

Kulim district police chief Redzuan Salleh said the Padang Serai PKR chief died at 2.27pm at Kulim Hospital. 

This is the first time a candidate has died during a general election. 

The ex-army man was reportedly hospitalised three days ago, and was in a six-cornered fight for the Padang Serai seat.

He would have faced C. Sivarraajh (Barisan Nasional), Azman Nasrudin (Perikatan Nasional), Hamzah Abd Rahman (Pejuang), Mohd Bakhri Hashim (Warisan) and Sreanandha Rao (Independent).

The 69-year-old won the seat in the 2018 polls after defeating MCA’s Leong Yong Kong and PAS’ Sobri Osman. – November 16, 2022.