KEPALA BATAS: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council has yet to decide which party will contest in the upcoming Mahkota state seat by-election.
PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a meeting has been scheduled for 4 pm today in Putrajaya, to be chaired by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to discuss the unexpected vacancy of the seat.
The meeting will be attended by Saifuddin, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, and Parti Amanah Negara president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
Saifuddin said despite calls from certain parties about which party to contest the state seat, the matter should be handled internally rather than publicly.
"We will have a meeting, and from that discussion, we will then make a decision. That is typically the process.
"Normally, this does not involve lower-level leaders giving opinions publicly. Instead, it is managed through internal mechanisms.
"Later this afternoon at 4pm, I, the president of Amanah, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, and the prime minister will meet.
"Although it is not clear if this issue will be discussed, I am confident that we can address it through party channel. Usually, before the party makes a decision on any seat vacancy, we discuss it within the coalition," he told reporters here today.
He was met after the ministry's Sua Mesra programme here today.
He was asked on Amanah Kluang's demands for an opportunity to contest in the upcoming Mahkota state seat by-election, following the vacancy caused by the death of its incumbent Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain recently.
Amanah Kluang chief Dr Mohd Zuhan Mohd Zain said the party had previously won the Mahkota seat during the 14th general election (GE14) and contested again in the 2022 state elections.
The Election Commission announced it would hold a special meeting on Aug 13 to discuss the Mahkota by-election.
Barisan Nasional also declared its readiness for the by-election.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin also asked the party machinery to focus on the ongoing Nenggiri state seat by-election and not to entertain Pas' question on why DAP did not go to the ground for campaigning.
He said, with a few days left to polling, the party machinery should work hard to ensure Barisan Nasional's victory in the seat.
"I think there is no need for us to entertain what Pas said. That is that the issue. Who knows there are ordinary DAP members on the ground helping," he said.