COMMUNICATIONS Minister Fahmi Fadzil has neither denied nor confirmed rumours that PAS will be joining the federal unity government.

The government spokesman there are many “ongoing discussions” between the government and the opposition leaders.

“There are a lot of discussions between menteri besar and MPs from PAS. We can see discussions between the menteris besar from PAS, for example, talking with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and talks between parliament members and the prime minister,” he said at the Sungai Bakap by-election nomination centre today.

The Sungai Bakap by-election in Penang is a straight fight between Joohari Ariffin of Pakatan Harapan and Abidin Ismail of Perikatan Nasional. The electoral roll for the state seat of Sungai Bakap has 39,279 voters, consisting of 39,222 regular voters and 57 police officers.

A total of 522 election workers will manage the by-election process, while over 600 police officers will be deployed to ensure security.

In the Penang elections last August, Nor Zamri, who was also the Nibong Tebal PAS chief, defeated Pakatan Harapan candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose by 1,563 votes.

The Sungai Bakap polls is the eighth by-election to be held after the 2022 general election.

The campaign period commences today and ends before midnight on July 5.

Polling day is July 6, with early voting on July 2. – June 22, 2024.