PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) has officially retained the Sungai Bakap state seat in Penang with an increased majority of 4,267 votes.

PN’s Abidin Ismail, a 56-year-old former logistics executive got 14,489 votes, while Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Dr Joohari Ariffin, a former educator, secured 10,222 votes.

The official results were announced at the Dewan Serbaguna Jawi in Taman Desa Jawi.

In total, 39,279 registered voters were eligible to vote in this by-election, including 57 members of the police force.  A total 63.45% voted.

The by-election was a straight fight between Joohari and Nibong Tebal PAS vice-chief Abidin, representing PN.

The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff of PAS on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.

In the 2023 state election, the late Nor Zamri captured Sungai Bakap with a 1,563-vote majority, defeating Nurhidayah Che Rose from Pakatan.

Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the coalition failed to convince voters on national, state and local issues important to the electorate.

“Maybe our efforts to explain certain issues were unconvincing for them,” he said at PH’s vote tallying centre at Bukit Jawi Golf Resort in Seberang Perai.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli meanwhile claimed the results tonight were a reflection of poor turnout among non-Malay voters.- July 6, 2024