Johor PN to hold meeting on vacant seats in Pulai, Simpang Jeram

MUAR - The Johor Perikatan Nasional (PN) will hold a meeting concerning vacant seats in the Pulai Parliament and the Simpang Jeram State Legislative Assembly next week.

This unexpected vacancy in both areas is the result of the demise of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Salahuddian Ayub, who was also the Deputy President of Parti Amanah Negara last Sunday.

Its chairman, Datuk Sahruddin Jamal said a meeting involving the wing leaders of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Pas and Gerakan at the state level is expected to take place in Johor Bahru.

The former Menteri Besar said the vacant seats in the two areas involved had been informed to the PN Chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the central Bersatu meeting on Wednesday.

"We are already aware that Pas candidates contested for Simpang Jeram state seat in the Johor State Election last year while Gerakan candidates contested in the Pulai Parliament at the 15th General Election.

"Johor PN consulted with the central leadership on which party will be contesting for the two seats. Nevertheless, each party will send three potential candidates' names to the central leadership for consideration," he said when met on Friday.

Dr Sahruddin, also a Member of the Bukit Kepong tate assembly, added that the central PN leadership meeting regarding the vacancy of the two seats in Johor will be followed up after the state-level meeting.

"For now, the PN is busy with the State Elections in Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu.The central PN meeting will be held after that.

"The Johor PN is also involved in sending party machinery to assist the PN campaigns in Negeri Sembilan and Selangor," he said.

The Election Commission will hold a special meeting on August 3 to discuss the implementation of the By-Elections of the Pulai Parliament and the Simpang Jeram State Legislative Assembly.

Salahuddin, who is also the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, breathed his last at 9.23pm on Sunday at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar, Kedah.

Salahuddin became an MP for Pulai for two terms, in 2018 and 2022, in addition to winning the Simpang Jeram state assembly seat during the 14th & 15th General Elections.

In the last 15th General Election, Salahuddin won a majority of 20,989 votes in the Pulai Parliament.

Salahuddin defeated the former Deputy Home Minister, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohammed who obtained 23,026 votes, while the Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate, Loh Kah Yong, obtained 14,432 votes.

Salahuddin also successfully defended the Simpang Jeram state seat for a second term in the Johor PRN when he obtained 8,749 votes defeating the PN candidate, Zarul Salleh who obtained 6,350 votes and the BN candidate, Lokman Md Don who obtained 6,062 votes.