BUKIT MERTAJAM, 28 April 2009: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is fielding its Penang deputy liaison committee chairperson, Dr Mansor Othman, 56, as the party’s candidate for the Penanti state by-election on 31 May.
This was announced by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a function attended by about 1,000 party supporters at Yayasan Aman here tonight.
In the 2008 general election, Mansor was fielded as the party candidate for the Pulau Betong state seat but lost to Barisan Nasional’s Muhamad Farid Saad.
The Penanti state by-election will be held following the resignation of its incumbent, PKR’s Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, 33, who was also Penang Deputy Chief Minister I, on 16 April.
The Election Commission has fixed nomination day on 23 May.
The Barisan Nasional has yet to decide if they will field a candidate for the by-election. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the coalition did not rule out the possibility of not contesting, and added that too much time, energy and money have been spent on by-elections that need not be held.
Even if the BN does not contest, PKR will not have a free ride in the Penanti by-election as former Penang Wanita PKR chief Aminah Abdullah has said she will contest as an independent. — Bernama
