BARISAN Nasional (BN) candidate C. Sivarraajh will abide by the coalition’s decision to make way for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate in the Padang Serai parliamentary election. 

Sivarraajh said in a statement today that the decision needs to be accepted as party interests should take priority above others. 

“I wish all party machinery and friends in the media a big thank you for helping my fight here, not only during the campaigning period but since the first day I started here three years ago.

“I also would like to express my gratitude to the BN supreme leadership for the opportunity given to me throughout the three years here in the Padang Serai parliamentary constituency,” he said, adding that he has decided to continue to serve Padang Serai constituency residents with whatever problems they face, even if he could not help resolve bigger issues.

He also requested that Prime Minister Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the federal government focus on issues highlighted in his “5 Thrusts for Padang Serai” manifesto. 

“Padang Serai is far behind in all aspects. It’s not fair for residents here to continue to be neglected,” Sivaraj said. 

Meanwhile, PH candidate Mohamad Sofee Razak said he welcomed BN’s decision to withdraw from the polls, saying that the move is a starting point towards a successful unity government concept in Kedah. 

“I’m very thankful and respect the decision made by BN. This is a very clear indicator of unity. Praise be to God, we have managed to form a unity government at the federal level,” he said, but added that he has yet to discuss the matter with Sivarraajh and would be meeting up with the Padang Serai MIC division chief and committee members this evening.

With four days till polling day, he said the party machinery is currently engaged in informing all BN voters in Padang Serai to vote for PH. 

“As BN and Warisan are still listed on the ballot papers, we will leave it to the BN leadership to inform and convince their members and supporters to vote for PH on December 7. 

“We need to go and meet voters to inform them of this matter as maybe youth and those with access to social media won’t have problems, but we certainly need to meet those in rural areas.

“Currently in our campaign, we need to inform (voters) that PH and BN are together as a government and we will move together from now,” he said.

Kedah BN chairman Jamil Khir Baharom said BN agreed yesterday to make way for PH in the Padang Serai election.

Besides Sofee and Sivarraajh, those contesting the seat are Azman Nasrudin (Perikatan Nasional), Hamzah Abd Rahman (Pejuang), Mohd Bakhri Hashim (Warisan), and Independent Sreanandha Rao. 

Warisan has pulled out of the contest, but the party’s logo will still appear on ballot papers. – Bernama, December 3, 2022.