Tanjung Piai Bersatu division chief Karmaine Sardini has officially been announced as Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for the Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election on November 16. — Picture by Ben Tan

PONTIAN, Oct 28 — Tanjung Piai Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) division chief Karmaine Sardini is the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the parliamentary seat in the November 16 by-election.

The announcement was made by Johor PH chief Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Hai Kee Hall in Jalan Johor here today.

Also present was PH director for the by-election, Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal, who is also Johor mentri besar, and other of the coalition’s state and national leaders.

They were joined by hundreds of PH supporters.

Karmaine, 66, was a former teacher at SMK Teluk Kerang in Tanjung Piai before continuing his studies in architecture.

He later served as an architect in the Kuala Lumpur City Hall from 1980 to 2000.

Karmaine was also the former Tanjung Piai Umno division treasurer before leaving the party.

He once contested as Bersatu candidate during the last general election in the Pontian parliament where he lost to incumbent Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan by just 833 votes.

The Johor state government also appointed him as a board of director member at Yayasan Pelajaran Johor earlier this year.

A local Pontian native, Karmaine is also the former imam of Al-Muttaqin Mosque in Johor Baru.

Johor PH chief Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin shakes hands with Karmaine Sardini after the announcement today. — Picture by Ben Tan

Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, said that while many candidates were qualified for the seat, Karmaine’s selection was a good choice and in line with the criteria outlined by PH.

“Many names were given, but the leadership considers Karmaine a suitable candidate based on the fact that he is a local, born here and is qualified.

“This is the criteria that the leadership believes is appropriate to continue the late Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik’s work in Tanjung Piai as the area still needs economic, social, educational and other forms of development,” he said.

Earlier, Muhyiddin, who is also the home minister, outlined five key issues, including addressing the cost of living, improving healthcare facilities and opening more employment opportunities to local youths.

The Election Commission has set November 2 as Nomination Day and November 16 as polling day for the Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election.

The by-election was triggered after incumbent, Dr Md Farid died of heart complications on September 21.

Dr Md Farid won the seat in the GE14 after he defeated Wee Jeck Seng and PAS’ Nordin Othman in a three-way contest in the 14th general election.

The Tanjung Piai constituency is a mixed seat comprising 57 per cent Malays, 42 per cent Chinese and 1 per cent Indians.

The seat has been traditionally contested by MCA and DAP since 2004. In 2018, DAP ceded the seat to Bersatu to contest under its PH campaign.