PN picks late rep’s aide for Sungai Bakap by-election

PAS’s candidate for the Sungai Bakap by-election, Abidin Ismail (left), with PN election director Sanusi Nor at the event to announce his candidacy.

SEBERANG PERAI: Perikatan Nasional will field Abidin Ismail of PAS for the Sungai Bakap by-election on July 6.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man named Abidin, the Nibong Tebal PAS vice-chief, as the coalition’s candidate at an event in Bandar Tasek Mutiara, Penang, tonight.

The Sungai Bakap state seat fell vacant following the death of PAS assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff, on May 24. Nominations will be held on June 22.

Abidin, a 56-year-old logistics executive, was previously an aide to Zamri.

Pakatan Harapan has named PKR’s Joohari Ariffin as its candidate for the by-election. PKR previously held the seat before losing it to PAS in the state election last August.

Zamri, the then Nibong Tebal PAS chief, defeated PH’s candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose with a 1,563-vote majority.

Tuan Ibrahim said PAS’s Syura Council initially received four names for the by-election, adding that so long as the candidate espoused Islamic values, it was “good enough”.

He said Abidin is a local boy, born and bred in Sungai Bakap.

“He has followed the late assemblyman’s work closely and knew his past work, so it is good (that we nominate him),” he said.

Abidin declined to comment when asked how he expected to fare against his PH rival.

He said he simply wanted to focus on helping the Sungai Bakap residents, having seen their problems and issues.

“I’m thankful for this nomination by the party and I will do my best. Every day I think of the late ‘Abang Zam’, and we miss him deeply,” he said.