BARISAN Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) are expected to announce their respective candidates for the Pelangai by-election within the week before nomination day on September 23. 

Pahang BN chairman Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the announcement of the candidate would be made on September 17 or earlier, after finalising the list with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. 

“Thus far, we have six potential candidates, and we will see who is more qualified. These potential candidates are of calibre, authoritative, and accepted by the local community. So, we will choose the best from the good,” he said. 

Wan Rosdy said this to reporters after officiating the closing ceremony of the Ulu Cheka Forest Biodiversity Scientific Expedition Seminar and celebrating Tasik Chini’s success in retaining its Unesco Biosphere Reserve status today. 

Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party would announce its candidate for Pelangai on September 20 in a ceremony scheduled to take place in Bentong.  

“We have submitted three names to the PAS Ulama Syura Council for consideration and finalisation,” said the Cheka assemblyman, when met after the Pahang state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang today. 

The Pelangai state by-election is being called following the death of the incumbent Johari Harun in a plane crash near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam, Selangor, on August 17. 

The Election Commission has set October 7 for polling, with early voting on October 3. 

In the last general election, Johari won the seat with a majority of 4,048 votes, defeating PN’s Kasim Samat, who obtained 3,260 votes, Pakatan Harapan’s Ahmed Wafiuddin Shamsuri (2,031 votes) and Pejuang’s Isa Ahmad (65 votes). – Bernama, September 5, 2023.