BN expected to withdraw to give way to PH in Padang Serai
ALOR SETAR - A day prior to the early polling for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat, speculations are rife that Barisan Nasional ( BN) candidate Datuk C Sivaraj would withdraw from contesting.
It is believed that the move was a last minute decision to give way to Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Dr Mohamad Sofee Razak as an agreement for a unity government at the central level.
The rumours were made stronger when Sivaraj cancelled all of his campaigns in Padang Serai and a ceramah will be held today with both prominent leaders from PH and BN making an appearance.
The ceramah is said to be attended by Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu, Kedah BN chairman Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom as well as Kedah PH chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar.
An announcement is expected to be made by the state leadership of both parties at the event.
It was understood that BN made the decision after PH announced its withdrawal for the Tioman state seat to make way for the BN candidate on Tuesday.
The move is said to be based on the principles of respecting the unity government agreement made up of both parties and also as a reciprocal strategy for the coalition to win.
Its also seen as a fair strategy for the Tioman state seat to be handed over to BN while the Padang Serai parliamentary seat goes to PH On that basis, it is possible that the PH and BN state leadership had reached a consensus after the meeting that was chaired by Jamil Khir on Thursday night.
Sivaraj previously stated that he would not hand over the seat to PH and continued to campaign because he had not received any orders from the BN leadership to give way to other candidates.
Sofee is the Kedah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary and Kedah PH Secretary previously suggested that BN compromise so that they could face Perikatan Nasional (PN) as a lone unit in Padang Serai.
He had stated that a victory in Padang Serai would become a meaningful gift for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after establishing the Federal government.
The example shown by the PH candidate for the Tioman state seat Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly who had given way to Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Husain from BN to contest the seat was seen as a harmonious example which proves that a unity government could be achieved if all parties were big hearted and open minded in accepting changes.
Apart from Sivaraj and Sofee, the Padang Serai Parliament will witness a five -corner clash which include PN candidate Datuk Azman Nasrudin, Hamzah Abd Rahman (Pejuang), and Sreanandha Rao (Independent).
Warisan candidate Mohd Bakri Hashim had withdrawn from the contest earlier and had stated his support for the PH candidate.
The election for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat had been delayed after the PH candidate for the seat incumbent M Karupaiya passed away on Nov 16 two days after he was admitted to Kulim Hospital due to heart complications.
The Election Commission (EC) had set Dec 7 as polling day and early polling would be conducted tomorrow.
