Abang Johari (seated centre) seen speaking to reporters during the press conference.
KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) is still in the process of making a decision on who will be contesting in the Pujut by-election on July 4.
Chief minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said that they will only reveal the candidate “when the time comes” as the (candidate) lists were quite lengthy.
When asked by reporters whether a direct BN candidate will be fielded, he stressed that they are still in the process of making a decision.
“There is still a lot of time for us to make the decision. What I can reveal is that the candidate must be a Malaysian,” he said when speaking to reporters during a press conference held at N8 Satok Service Centre, Jalan Kulas here today.
Abang Johari pointed out that whoever the candidate is, it will be an uphill task for BN to win the seat.
“The way I see it, we have a realistic chance of winning the seat. It is just that we have to work hard.”
On May 19, the Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah announced that nomination will be on June 20, while polling is set on July 4. The by-election follows the disqualification of former Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon by the State Legislative Assembly on May 12.
Dr Ting won the seat under the DAP ticket, with a majority of 1,759 votes in the May 2016 state election. He was challenged by Datuk Hii King Chion (direct BN candidate), Jofri Jaraiee (PAS) and Fong Pau Teck (Independent).