NIBONG TEBAL: Pakatan Harapan's Sungai Bakap by-election director Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid believes there will be a swing among Umno voters to the unity government candidate.
In the August 2023 state elections, the Sungai Bakap state seat, which has always been Barisan Nasional (BN) and PH's stronghold, fell to Perikatan Nasional's (PN) Nor Zamri Latiff.
The Pas man's death on May 24 triggered the by-election.
At that time (state elections), Umno members, who were unhappy with the BN-PH union, had voted for PN's candidate as a sign of protest.
Mohamad, however, said he sensed a swing among Umno voters this time around.
"We are now seeing a positive response from the Barisan Nasional election machinery, especially among Umno voters.
"Insya Allah, the response is positive, in that Umno and BN are with the unity government and will support our candidate," he told newsmen at the sideline of the perPADUan manifesto launch by PH's candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin.
Mohamad, who is also Deputy Chief Minister I, said generally, there has been encouraging response from the voters during their campaign trail.
"Insya Allah, the Sungai Bakap state seat will return to the unity government on July 6.
"Nevertheless, we will continue to work hard in the remaining days of campaigning," he added.
On Thursday, Mohamad had said that voters in Sungai Bakap had a lot to lose if they chose the opposition in the by-election.
He said he was confident that voters in Sungai Bakap were wise enough to return the seat back to PH.
Mohamad said one of the things voters stood to lose was allocation.
He also said a PH elected representative would also serve as the bridge between the people of Sungai Bakap and the state and federal governments and agencies.