GEORGE TOWN, May 27 — The Unity Government's coalition parties in Penang are expected to hold a meeting this week to discuss preparations for the by-election of the Sungai Bakap state constituency.
Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he understood that Parti Keadilan Rakyat had started meetings in preparation for the by-election.
Chow, who is also the Chief Minister, said the state DAP submitted to Keadilan on the matter of candidates as the party contested the seat during the state election in August last year.
"We have not made an official decision yet, but our understanding is that the party that contested earlier is given priority," he told the press outside the Penang State Legislative Assembly today.
Chow is confident that the solid cooperation among the parties of the Unity Government consisting of DAP, Keadilan, and Barisan Nasional (BN) will give the coalition an advantage to reclaim the Sungai Bakap seat in the by-election.
Its state assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff, 56, died on Friday (May 24) while being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Seberang Jaya Hospital due to a stomach inflammation.
During the Penang state election, Zamri, the Nibong Tebal PAS president, defeated Pakatan Harapan candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose with a majority of 1,563 votes.
Meanwhile, speaking to the press outside the Penang State Legislative Assembly, Penang PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff said they would meet to discuss preparations for the by-election in the near future.
— Bernama
