GEORGETOWN: Any decision on the Tanjung Piai by-election, including its likely candidate, would be determined by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said it was also better for the matter to be discussed and decided before hand by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) as the seat belongs to them.
“Whatever it is, we accept that it is a joint effort involving all component parties of PH,” he said.
Lim who is Finance Minister said this after the launch of three new services at Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital here today.
In Kuala Lumpur, Barisan Nasional said it had yet to hold talks among component members on the candidate for the Tanjung Piai by-election.
Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said what was assured was that the coalition would nominate a candidate for the parliamentary seat.
“We have yet to meet, as such there is no decision yet. What is sure is that the BN will nominate a candidate.
“I hope all will respect the party’s decision. As such there should not be any threat. The BN must be united to face the by-election to ensure victory," he said today.
The upcoming 9th by-election following the 14th General Election last year came about following the death of Tanjung Piai incumbent Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik died on Sept 21.
The 42-year-old, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, died at the Pontian Hospital from a heart attack.
The Election Commission will meet next Tuesday to trash out details and logistics for the by-election including its nomination and election dates.
In the 14th General Election Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng representing MCA/BN lost the Tanjung Piai seat by a slim margin of 524 votes.
Dr Farid garnered 21,255 votes compared to Wee who secured 20,731 votes.
Tanjung Piai seat has been traditionally held by the MCA since its creation in 2003, following a parliamentary constituency re-delineation exercise.
Apart from Wee, a former deputy minister under the BN who won the seat for two consecutive terms in 2008 and 2013, former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting had also held the seat for a single term when he was elected in 2004.
In GE14, the total number of registered voters in the Tanjung Piai parliamentary constituency was 53,528. Out of that figure, Malays comprised 56.8 per cent, Chinese 41.64 per cent, Indians 1.01 per cent and others 0.55 per cent.
Tanjung Piai is located 65km southwest of Johor Baru, and 30km south of Pontian and is the "Southernmost Tip of Mainland Asia". It has been designated as a world heritage site since Jan 31, 2003.