Zulkefli Omar has contested and lost three times. – Picture by Jack Ooi
PORT DICKSON, Sept 29 – PAS today named its Negri Sembilan chief Zulkefli Omar as the candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election.
Tha announcement was made at a public rally in the Chinese-dominated Batu 9 town near here by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
“The candidate represents all Malaysians and the people of Bagan Pinang,” Hadi told the multi-racial crowd.
Zulkefli, 45, a communication graduate had contested and lost three times before.
During the last year’s general election he lost Lenggeng state seat in Kuala Pilah by some 1,000 votes.
Speaking to reporters after the announcement Hadi said he was confident of PAS's chances of winning the seat."We have won seven out of eight by-elections, we are confident," said Hadi.
"He is our best candidate - young and educated."
Hadi also dismissed the suggestion that the infighting within Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor would affect the coalition's chances of winning the seat.
During the last general election PAS lost 12 out of 13 state constituencies it contested in Negri Sembilan.
The Islamist party only won the Paroi seat, situated within the Rembau parliamentary constituency.
To a question on the Barisan Nasional's (BN) decision to field Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad as the Bagan Pinang candidate, Zulkefli said he would let the people decide on the former Negri Sembilan mentri besar's ability to represent them.
"We contested to fulfil the people's wish not for other reasons," said Zulkefli.
The Bagan Pinang by-election was made necessary following the death of BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.
In March last year, Azman defeated Ramli Ismail of PAS by some 2,000 votes.
BN is currently ruling the state with a simple majority after winning only 21 out of the 36 state constituencies.
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