Former Johor Speaker Suhaizan Kaiat is first choice as Amanah’s Pulai by-election candidate, say sources

JOHOR BARU, Aug 8 — Former Johor state legislative Speaker Suhaizan Kaiat is expected to be the sole front-runner for the Pulai parliamentary constituency to replace the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub as its MP.

A Johor Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) source, with knowledge of the candidate selection process, said Suhaizan’s name was the only one proposed to the party’s state leadership by its Pulai division.

“After a regular vetting process, Johor Amanah will then submit the name to the party’s national leadership as the potential candidate for the Pulai parliamentary by-election.

“This is also a strong sign that Suhaizan, who was also Salahuddin’s political secretary before his death, has the full backing of the Amanah division as the only candidate to represent them as a potential MP,” said the source when contacted by Malay Mail last night.

Salahuddin, who was the Pulai and Simpang Jeram elected representative, died on July 23 following an aneurysm earlier that week.

The source added that based on convention, there should be at least three names from a division to be given to Johor Amanah for vetting purposes before it is submitted to the national leadership for endorsement.

“Usually, the first name is the preferred candidate followed by second and third choices.

“So, by right for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, there should be at least six names listed as potential candidates, which is three proposed names from a division,” the source said.

Another Johor Amanah source said Suhaizan’s sole candidacy was a deliberate move to send a message that the party’s grassroots have made their choice and are not keen on having others vying to be the top candidate.

He said this was also a signal to Amanah’s national leadership to step down following speculation that there were several of the party’s top leaders who were keen to contest in the Pulai parliamentary by-election.

“Suhaizan’s sole candidacy, despite not endorsed by the national leadership yet, is seen by Johor Amanah as the next best person to follow through with Salahuddin’s parliamentary work and also continue in his Rahmah concept.

“As Salahuddin’s former aide, Suhaizan understands the tasks and responsibilities that is expected as Pulai’s elected representative,” said the source.

Another Johor Amanah source, who is from the Youth wing, agreed that unofficially naming Suhaizan as the sole candidate would save time and avoid the issue of speculation that can sometimes split the party.

However, the source also pointed out that the move had an opposite effect for the Simpang Jeram where the Bakri division failed to submit any candidate names last night.

“Usually, this suggests a problem was brewing at the division level.

“It was likely that the division expressed its unhappiness by not submitting any proposed candidates for Simpang Jeram,” he said.

Johor Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan had earlier confirmed that only one name was proposed out of several for the Pulai parliamentary seat.

However, he declined to disclose the name and called for a postponement of the proposed candidates’ list that was supposed to be announced to reporters at the party’s state office at Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai in Skudai here.

Aminolhuda said the party’s full list of candidates for both the Pulai parliament constituency and the Simpang Jeram state seat will only be completed on August 13.

Suhaizan is known to be politically active prior to his appointment as the Johor state legislative Speaker from 2018 to 2022.

The 50-year-old politician started his career as a student activist before becoming a PAS Youth leader who was later among the co-founders of Amanah in 2015.

Aminolhuda made it clear that the final naming of a candidate is not under the party’s state chapter, but will be a decision made by the national leadership.

“For us in the state, we have our own benchmark for our proposed candidate to be a Johorean of good character and integrity.

“However, the final selection is made by the national leadership and we at the state level will just take note,” he told reporters after chairing a special meeting involving the upcoming Pulai parliament and Simpang Jeram state constituency by-elections.

Aminolhuda added that Johor Amanah is also not taking the two by-elections in the state lightly, despite being incumbent seats for the party.

He said that the election machinery aspects for both by-elections will play an important role in determining victory for the candidates.

“The election machinery also needs to be well mobilised, especially to deal with the by-elections, as the two seats cannot be considered as safe seats anymore.

“We are aware that the [political] atmosphere today is quite different even though Umno and its president have stated that they are handing over the two seats to Amanah.

“We need to have consistent cooperation with BN as seen in the upcoming state elections,” he said.

On the possibility that Amanah’s national communications chief Khalid Abdul Samad and Salahuddin’s daughter Siti Fatihah will be named as candidates for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, Aminolhuda stressed that the party’s Johor chapter will not have any say in the matter.

“That decision will be up to the national level,” he said, responding to recent speculation that Khalid may be named as the Pulai parliamentary candidate, while Siti Fatihah was among those shortlisted for the Simpang Jeram state seat.

The Election Commission has set nomination day for the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Simpang Jeram state seat by-elections on August 26.

Early voting will be on September 5 and polling day on September 9.

The by-elections have been following the death of the incumbent, Salahuddin, who was the minister of domestic trade and cost of living, on July 23.