GEORGE TOWN: A Pakatan Harapan candidate who lost in the 14th General Election by just 81 votes is in the final stages of sending an election petition to challenge the results.

Marzuki Yahya (pic), who lost the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary seat said he would meet with the party’s legal advisor today before filing it in court next week.

The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Penang chairman said during the party’s state leadership meeting, they discovered problems that arose during the election.

“One of it was the decision for the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary seat,” he said at the party’s buka puasa event at Royale Chulan Penang in Weld Quay yesterday.

He added that the number of spoilt votes were too high, with 689 spoilt votes and 297 unreturned ballot papers.

Marzuki’s request for a recount was rejected by the returning officer.

The seat was won by incumbent Datuk Shabudin Yahaya of Barisan Nasional, who received 18,547 votes against Marzuki’s 18,466 votes. Rizal Hafiz Ruslan from PAS received 14,891 votes.

Marzuki said 10,000 Umno members in Penang had left the party and joined Pribumi since before the elections, including himself. He was a national Umno Youth exco member.

“There have been talks about whether Umno members or those who are still on the fence can join us.

“We welcome all (Malays) and it is not a problem. The most important thing is that they abide to the party’s rules and policies,” he said.