THE Sungai Bakap by-election is officially a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin and Perikatan Nasional candidate Abidin Ismail.
Returning officer Khairulnizam Hashim announced that the two candidates had successfully filed their nomination papers following the closing of the nomination centre at the Jawi Multipurpose Hall at 10am today.
Earlier, Dr Joohari arrived at the nomination centre at 8.45am, together with his proposer S. Galaimani, who is also the PKR Nibong Tebal secretary, and seconder Ameera Nadia Mohd Shafiee, who is also the state Puteri Umno chief.
Joohari holds a PhD from Universiti Sains Malaysia and is the director of Institute Aminuddin Baki (northern branch).
He has worked closely with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Nibong Tebal MP, handling parliamentary and party matters.
Sungai Bakap comes under the Nibong Tebal parliamentary constituency, which also includes the Jawi and Sungai Acheh state seats.
The Sungai Bakap seat became vacant following the death of the incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff, from Perikatan Nasional, on May 24 due to stomach inflammation. He passed away at the Seberang Jaya Hospital.
Nor Zamri, who was also the Nibong Tebal PAS chief, defeated Nurhidayah Che Rose from Pakatan by a majority of 1,563 votes, securing 15,433 votes against Nurhidayah’s 13,870 votes.
Polling day is set for July 6, with early voting scheduled for July 2.
A total of 39,279 electors, including 57 police personnel, are eligible to vote in this by-election.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the state Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, urged the eligible voters in Sungai Bakap to make the right choice and vote for Dr Joohari as the unity government’s candidate for Sungai Bakap by-election.
He said this is important to ensure the continuation of various developments planned for Sungai Bakap and its residents.
“This is proven with various initiatives including infrastructure projects that have been implemented to improve the quality of life for the people under the Sungai Bakap constituency.
“This also includes the most recent project namely the Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) project that has been successfully installed at the Bukit Panchor Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Nibong Tebal.
“There will also be even more water infrastructure projects that will be carried out this year including a compact water treatment plant in Sungai Kerian that cost around RM4 million.
“All of these initiatives will definitely improve the water services in the constituency.
“Thus, I would like to urge the constituents of Sungai Bakap to vote for a unity government’s candidate to ensure a brighter future for Sungai Bakap. Together we can win this by-election!,” said Chow.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who is the PN election director, was present at the nomination centre to give his support to Abidin.
Both Chow and Sanusi were seen to have a light-hearted conversation, aware of the challenging battle ahead.
Also present during the nomination day today were Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is also the BN deputy chairman, Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Amanah vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng, DAP national organising secretary Steven Sim Chee Keong, Fadhlina, Penang PKR chairman Nurul Izzah Anwar, Penang Umno chairman Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, Penang PKR deputy chairman Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid and Penang DAP secretary Lim Hui Ying.