KUALA LUMPUR: Former Johor state assembly speaker Suhaizan Kaiat is set to contest the upcoming Pulai by-election after the recent death of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
In a statement on Saturday (Aug 19) Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu also said that Bakri Amanah deputy chief Nazri Abdul Rahman would contest the Simpang Jeram state seat.
Mohamad said the two candidates would be introduced next Wednesday (Aug 23) in Simpang Jeram, Johor at an event to remember the late Salahuddin.
He said the names were finalised following a candidate selection committee meeting on Aug 17.
The committee comprised Amanah vice-president Adly Zahari, secretary-general Datuk Dr Hatta Ramli, vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Wanita chief Aiman Athirah Al Jundi, Youth chief Hasbie Muda and Amanah Johor state chairman Aminolhuda Hasan.
“This committee met and submitted a list of candidates to me and the Amanah national committee on Aug 17, 2023.
“P161 Pulai (parliamentary seat) will be contested by Suhaizan Kaiat and the N13 Simpang Jeram (state seat) will be contested by Nazri Abdul Rahman,” he said.
The 50-year-old Suhaizan, who was a computer science graduate, previously worked as Salahuddin’s political secretary until the latter’s death on July 23 this year.
Among others, Suhaizan manages the Pulai service centre as the Pulai Amanah chief aside and was also the Johor Amanah vice chairman.
Nazri, a 56-year-old engineer from Muar, Johor, had served as the head of the Simpang Jeram service centre economic bureau.
Salahuddin passed away at the Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar at 10.15pm on July 22 after suffering from a brain haemorrhage.
He contested in GE14 in 2018 under Pakatan Harapan and won both the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Johor state seat of Simpang Jeram.