PAKATAN Harapan (PH) will not contest in the Mahkota by-election and has agreed to allow Barisan Nasional (BN) to defend the Johor state seat.
In a statement, PH chief secretary Saifuddin Nasution said the coalition made the decision following a meeting of top PH leaders, chaired by Anwar Ibrahim.
“PH has agreed to let the BN candidate defend the state seat, similar to BN's decision to allow PH to defend the Pulai parliamentary seat and Simpang Jeram state seat in September 2023.”
“PH will give our utmost support to BN to win the seat, as it is our priority to uphold the spirit of the unity government,” Saifuddin added.
The Election Commission has set 28 September as the polling day for the Mahkota by-election, with nomination day and early voting scheduled for 14 and 24 September, respectively.
The Mahkota seat became vacant following the death of its assemblyman, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on 2 August at Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom in Kluang.
In the Johor election in March 2022, Sharifah Azizah, representing BN, won the seat with a majority of 5,166 votes. – August 17, 2024.
