PERIKATAN Nasional’s Abidin Ismail today took his oath as the Sungai Bakap assemblyman at the Penang State Legislative Assembly at the State Assembly Building on Light Street.
Abidin, 56, who won the Sungai Bakap by-election on July 6 this year, was sworn in before State Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang. He pledged to carry out his duties to the best of his ability according to the State Constitution.
Abidin, a former logistics executive, defeated Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin, a former educator, garnering 14,489 votes against 10,222 to win by a majority of 4,267 votes.
The by-election was held following the death of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.
The late Nor Zamri captured Sungai Bakap by a 1,563-vote majority defeating Nurhidayah Che Rose from Pakatan in the 2023 state election.
Law then called all the assemblymen to observe a minute of silence for four former Penang assemblymen who had passed away before the oral question session began.
The four former Penang assemblymen include former Penang MIC chairman Datuk T. Subbiah, former Penang Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Ibrahim Saad, former state DAP chairman Teoh Teik Huat and former Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Lee Hack Teik.
When the oral session began, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow took the opportunity to congratulate Abidin on his achievement.