PH Retains Arthur Chiong To Defend Bukit Batu Seat In Johor Polls

KULAI, June 13 (Bernama) -- Pakatan Harapan (PH) today named incumbent Bukit Batu assemblyman Arthur Chiong Sen Sern as its first candidate for the Johor state election, fielding him to defend the seat he retained in the last polls.

PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Arthur is the first of the coalition's 56 candidates to be announced for the election, adding that the decision had been endorsed by PH chairman and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"He (Arthur) is the first PKR candidate announced so far, while the remaining candidates will be announced later," he said at the launch of PKR's election machinery for the Bukit Batu state constituency tonight.

Also present was Kulai Member of Parliament and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.

Saifuddin, who is also Home Minister and a PKR vice-president, said defending the seat would be more challenging this time despite Arthur's strong track record as the elected representative.

He called on PKR's election machinery and PH component parties, including DAP and Amanah, to strengthen cooperation to ensure the coalition's victory.

"I also urge our friends in DAP to work hard to help secure victory for the PKR candidate in Bukit Batu. If Arthur wins, it is as if DAP and Amanah win as well.

"Likewise, when a PH candidate from DAP contests, I instruct PKR machinery to work hard to support them. A DAP candidate's victory is our victory too. Only with that spirit can we truly become one team with one purpose," he said.

Arthur, representing PH-PKR, retained the Bukit Batu seat in the 2022 Johor state election after securing 9,439 votes in a four-cornered contest involving Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Warisan.

The 16th Johor state election will be held on July 11, with nomination day set for June 27 and early voting on July 7.

-- BERNAMA