BERSATU said there has been some dispute over the decision to nominate Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman Dominic Lau as Bayan Lepas candidate in the Penang elections.

Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu however said Lau’s candidacy would not have a negative impact on PN, and expressed confidence the majority of the Malay electorate there would vote for him.

“Many felt the seat was better suited for a Malay candidate, but that is the beauty of PN, in which we field a non-Malay in a Malay-majority constituency.

“Although there had been some dispute initially, once nominations were settled, the situation cooled and we are confident of securing Malay support,” he said at a media conference at the Perak Bersatu office in Ipoh today.

Media reports yesterday claimed no PAS supporters were present at the Bukit Belah Hall nomination centre in Teluk Kumbar when Lau, who is Gerakan president, filed his nomination papers yesterday.

The reports said there were only about 100 people, comprising Gerakan and Bersatu members, present at the nomination centre, and suggested this could be due to PN standing firm with its decision to field Lau instead of Penang PAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim for the seat.

Media reports said Malays comprise about 64% of the electorate in Bayan Lepas. – Bernama, July 30, 2023.