![[UPDATED] GE15: Padang Serai candidate M. Karupaiya dies](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/Karupaiya_Mutusami_Padang_Serai_FB.jpeg)
KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for Kedah’s rural Padang Serai parliamentary candidate M. Karupaiya died today, three days before polling day.
A source told The Vibes that Karupaiya, who is the seat incumbent, died of a heart attack.
Karupaiya won the seat in 2018 with a 8,813-vote majority, beating Barisan Nasional’s Leong Yong Kong and PAS’ Muhamad Sobri Osman.
This time, he was to face MIC’s Datuk C. Sivarraajh, who is running on Barisan Nasional’s ticket, Pejuang’s Hamzah Abd Rahman, Perikatan Nasional’s Datuk Cikgu Azman, Warisan’s Mohd Bakhri Hashim and independent Ananda A. K.
In a statement today, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail expressed his condolences, saying Karupaiya’s death is a huge loss for the party and the reformasi movement.
He shared that Karupaiya was an army personnel and Padang Serai PKR chief.
“The last we met was on November 14 where we were on a ceramah stage in Kulim. He gave a brief speech and shared the spotlight with PH chairman (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) after the closing speech.
Meanwhile, main challenger Sivarraajh also expressed his condolences to Karupaiya’s family and supporters.
The MIC man said in a statement that Karupaiya has spent a part of his life in public service and in politics.
“I’m shocked by the news of his death. This is a huge and unexpected loss for the people of Padang Serai. May he rest in peace.”
According to Election Regulations 1981, if a candidate dies before the poll is conducted, the Election Commission (EC) “shall countermand the notice for the poll, and shall appoint by notice published in the Gazette a fresh date for the election”
“... and in such case all proceedings with reference to the election shall be commenced afresh…” – The Vibes, November 16, 2022
