BARISAN Nasional (BN) chairman Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is confident that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate, who is representing the PH-BN alliance, can easily win the Pulai parliamentary by-election on September 9.

The deputy prime minister said this is because the late Pulai MP Salahuddin Ayub enjoyed good ties with Umno members in the constituency and the Pulai Umno division was also working well with PH grassroots.

“For Pulai, I am very confident (of victory) because Pulai Umno division chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed has good relations with our PH friends although just nine months ago we were rivals.

“But now, he has lined up several programmes to unite the two machineries. Salahuddin has also frequently interacted with Umno members, so Pulai will be quite easy,” he told reporters after the end of nominations for the by-election at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim today.

In the 15th general election, Salahuddin retained the seat on the PH ticket, and the combined votes received by PH and BN then exceeded 94,000, while the Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate obtained only about 20,000 votes.

Zahid said the unity government component parties has now reached their best level of cooperation, evident during the nomination process for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections this morning.

“However, we have to admit that the grassroots need a bit of time (to adjust), and during the campaign period we hope to put up a strong unity government machinery,” he said.

Asked to comment on Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s claim that the by-elections would mark the end of Umno, Zahid, who is Umno president, said he would not respond to such provocations.

Both by-elections will see three-cornered fights among PH, PN and Independent candidates.

For the Pulai seat, PH candidate Suhaizan Kaiat will face PN’s Zulkifli Jaafar and Independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi, who is using the key symbol. 

The two seats fell vacant following the death of Salahuddin on July 23. Salahuddin was Amanah deputy president and domestic trade and cost of living minister.

The Election Commission has set September 5 for early voting and September 9 for polling for both by-elections. – Bernama, August 26, 2023.