KULIM – Kedah Pakatan Harapan secretary Mohamad Sofee Razak has been selected as PH’s candidate for the Padang Serai federal seat after the election process was delayed following the sudden death of incumbent M. Karupaiya last week.
His name was earlier believed to be among those shortlisted as PH candidates after a lengthy debate had ensued whether a Malay, Chinese, or Indian should be fielded.
There are 133,867 voters eligible to vote for the seat of which 70% are Malays, Indians 15%, and Chinese 11% in the suburb of Kulim, a working-class industrial township.
Sofee is a veteran PKR leader in Kedah, having contested in the 2014 in the Kuala Ketil state seat under the Baling constituency.
He is also a social commentator and has written extensively about the current political situation in the country.
Earlier, Kedah PH liaison chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar urged the small crowd gathering opposite Kulim Central Mall to support PH in recognising the contributions of the late Karupaiya, who had served the constituents with diligence.
He hoped that the Padang Serai voters could reject the overtures of Perikatan Nasional, who tends to campaign by sowing extremism.
As the election comes after the outcome of the 15th general election is known and in view of the hung Parliament, nominations tomorrow will be interesting, to see who will be fielded to contest against Sofee.
Barisan Nasional is said to be involved in unity negotiations with PH to form a national unity federal government with help from the Borneo counterparts. – The Vibes, November 23, 2022
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