We won’t budge from Padang Serai, PH hopeful tells BN

(FMT) – Pakatan Harapan (PH) will not drop out of the race in Padang Serai, says its candidate, Sofee Razak.

Sofee said PKR considers Padang Serai one of its traditional seats, having held it since 2008.

He was responding to Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate, C Sivaraj, who asked him to pull out of the race.

Sivaraj said he has been working on the ground for the past three years, adding that Sofee, who first asked BN to withdraw, was a newbie.

BN and PH are part of the unity government in Putrajaya.

“I respect his opinion,” Sofee, a lawyer, told reporters. He said that despite being friends, PH would continue to contest the seat in the spirit of democracy.

Sofee was in the spotlight a day before nomination on Nov 24 after PKR grassroots leaders boycotted his candidacy as he was an outsider. He was eventually nominated despite protests.

Sofee also said his Perikatan Nasional opponent, Azman Nasruddin, should apologise to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for describing the unity government as a “kerajaan zina” (adulterous government).

Azman had likened the government to a marriage that did not get the consent of the people.