MELAKA – Former DAP man turned independent Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee has denied defending his Pengkalan Batu seat under the Pejuang banner just two days before nomination day.
He told Bernama that he remains an independent amid talk of the “Melaka four” running under opposition banners.
“I have always been free. Until now I am free, free to speak, free to work. I will call the media in the near future, okay?” he said.
Earlier, Norhizam purportedly agreed to be a Pejuang candidate ahead of the Melaka polls on November 20. DAP had earlier shot down the idea of having Norhizam run under the PH banner.
He won the Pengkalan Batu seat in 2018 under the Pakatan Harapan banner but was sacked on March 2 last year as Melaka DAP deputy chief after throwing his support for the new Perikatan Nasional coalition that saw PH lose federal power.
Umno’s Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali lost his chief minister position after Datuk Seri Idris Haron (Sg Udang), Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Norhizam and Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas) pulled their support, triggering the snap election.
The Election Commission then set November 20 as polling day for the Melaka vote and November 8 for nomination, giving parties 12 days to campaign. – The Vibes, November 6, 2021
