Penanti by-election: It’s PKR vs (ex) PKR

(The Star) – Even with the Barisan Nasional opting out of the Penanti by-election, there will be a contest.

Former Penang PKR Wanita head Aminah Abdullah is going ahead with her plan to contest – and she is looking forward to a straight fight against the PKR candidate.

“I have been praying day and night for Barisan not to contest and the decision by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, is the best piece of news,” the 56-year-old businesswoman said.

 However, she may still have to contend with another independent candidate. Mohd Saberi Othman, 49, a used car salesman, announced last night that he was throwing in his lot too.

“I am from Kubang Semang and am a resident of Penanti. I want to provide services to the people,” he told reporters.

The former military serviceman said he was confident of getting the support of the people as he was a local.

Aminah, however, appealed to other aspirants to pull out, to give her a “fighting chance” of wresting the seat from PKR.

Opposition leaders claimed that the Barisan decided not to contest in the Penanti by-election because of the “current political solution.”

PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali said he had expected Barisan to stand as it had booked some hotel rooms and houses.

“Maybe they will field a proxy candidate like an independent candidate to test the ground.”

PKR election campaign director Saifuddin Nasution said he had instructed PKR’s election machinery to continue as planned and to stand-by at the polling stations for possible challenges from independent candidates.

“We will only know on nomination day whether others will contest,” he said.

PKR candidate Mansor Othman, 56, said the decision gave him a better chance to win.

“My focus right now is to prepare for the polls,” he said.

PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa said the party would still go all out to help the PKR candidate even though they might only be facing independents.

“A fight is still a fight. This is not a political game. It is a by-election,” he said.

DAP Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, who is also Penang Chief Minister’s Office chief of staff, said that even though Barisan was not contesting, it does not mean Umno would not be supporting any independent candidate.

The seat fell vacant after PKR assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin quit as Penang Deputy Chief Minister I.