GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will meet soon to discuss the by-election for the Sungai Bakap state seat following the death of Pas representative Nor Zamri Latiff last week.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today said the meeting was scheduled for the end of this week.
"I am told that Penang PKR has met on the matter, but there is no official decision on potential candidates yet.
"We will meet later this week to discuss it.
"Based on our understanding, the party that contested the seat in the previous state election will get to contest it. In this case, it is PKR," he said on the sidelines of the state legislative assembly sitting here.
Zamri, 56, died at Seberang Jaya Hospital where he had been admitted since late last month due to an inflammation of the stomach.
He contested the Sungai Bakap seat in the 2023 state election and won against PKR's Nurhidayah Che Rus with a 1,563- vote majority.
Asked about the Penang government's chances of wresting the seat from Perikatan Nasional, Chow said there was a possibility.
"Based on the report I read this morning, people are happy with the cooperation of the unity government.
"They see the cooperation getting increasingly solid and this gives an advantage to the Penang unity government's administration."