KUALA LUMPUR – Amanah deputy president Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa expressed optimism about the chances of a unity government candidate reclaiming the Sg Bakap state assembly seat from Perikatan Nasional (PN), citing recent election outcomes.
Mujahid said that the forthcoming by-election could signal a shift away from the PN dominance seen in the previous general election (GE15) and state elections, marking a potential turning point.
“I am confident that the momentum of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) victories, which started with several by-elections up to Kuala Kubu Baharu, can be maintained and carried over to Sg Bakap.
“I also believe that Sg Bakap can break the PN wave based on the achievements we have made while being in government,” he said in a press conference after a stakeholder engagement session with the leadership committee, wings, and Amanah Kedah area today.
He noted that voters in Penang have become more aware, especially since the state has been governed by PH since 2008.
“Previously, for three terms, Sg Bakap was represented by PKR leaders, and before that, by Umno. This indicates that the influence is sufficient for the residents to evaluate.
“Penang has been governed by PH since 2008, and certainly, the voters there have reaped many benefits,” he said.
“What happened in the last general election and state elections was that we faced a wave (from PN), leading to many seats being lost, including the stronghold of Seberang Jaya. This wave was not only experienced in the North but also in the South.”
The Sg Bakap seat, originally won by MCA under the Barisan Nasional (BN) banner in 1959, has witnessed changes in representation over time.
The seat has changed hands several times among different parties, including Gerakan, which began winning the constituency in 1971 and held it for nine terms until 2004.
The dominance began to shift when Umno won the seat in the 11th general election in 2004.
After one term, the seat then switched to PKR in the 12th general election, with the party retaining the seat in the two subsequent general elections.
In the last state election, Nor Zamri Latiff, who was then Nibong Tebal PAS chief, defeated Pakatan Harapan candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose with a majority of 1,563 votes.
Zamri passed away last Friday due to stomach inflammation, and the Election Commission is scheduled to meet on June 6 to determine the dates for candidate nomination and voting. – June 1, 2024
