PH has higher chances of winning in Pulai, Simpang Jeram - Loke

SEREMBAN - Pakatan Harapan (PH) has an advantage to defend the Pulai Parliamentary seat and the Simpang Jeram state seat in the upcoming by-elections.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the PH's plus points are that it is the incumbent in both seats, aided by Umno and BN voters.

"I’m confident both seats have the potential for us to defend them, as both seats had the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub as the incumbent, who was a respected and trusted leader with a great track record.

"Both seats were mixed seats, and PH would surely have an advantage. In addition, we have the support of Johor Umno, the state we know as the party's stronghold," he said.

He told reporters such after delivering the contributions for the Seremban Parliament Public Mesra project at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato’ Sheikh Ahmad here on Saturday.

Loke also stated his confidence in both Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) candidates who are nominated.

"Amanah party leadership is confident in performing their research and analysis regarding the candidates’ strengths, and they know those nominated by the party would be representing the component partners in the unity government," he said.

The nomination of candidates today for the Pulai Parliamentary seat and the Simpang Jeram state seat will witness a three-corner fight in the by-election.

Suhaizan, who was the Johor Amanah deputy chairman and the Pulai Amanah Division chief, would go against Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Zulkifli Jaafar.

Zulkifli was the Pulai Bersatu Division chief and an entrepreneur from Tampoi.

Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association (PKPKL) Yang Dipertua Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi also announced his intention to contest as an independent candidate in the Pulai Parliament.

Muar Municipal Council (MPM) engineer Nazri Abd Rahman was nominated as a PH candidate, while PN nominated surgeon Dr Mazri Yahya, and S. Jegananthan was nominated as an independent candidate.

Meanwhile, on the vacancy in the Pelangai state seat in Pahang after the death of Elmina plane crash victim Datuk Seri Johari Harun, Loke said the seat will be contested by Umno-BN, as it is the incumbent.

"We have an understanding that if the seat has its incumbent, it would be contested by the party they were from, and PH would not place a candidate for the Pelangai state seat," he said.