KUALA LUMPUR: Suhaizan Kayat has been sworn in as a member of the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Sept 19).
On Sept 9, Pakatan Harapan defended the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats in the by-elections, triggered by the death of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was the elected representative for both constituencies.
Suhaizan secured 48,283 votes, an 18,641-vote majority over his opponents Zulkifli Jaafar from Perikatan Nasional-Bersatu and Independent Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi . Salahuddin, 61, who was also domestic trade and cost of living minister, suffered a brain haemorrhage on July 22 and underwent surgery the following morning. He passed away on July 23.
Concurrently, former Bachok MP Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz took his oath as a senator in the Dewan Negara in front of Senate president Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.Nik Abduh will replace Mohamad Affandi Mohamad, whose term as senator ended on July 7. The son of former PAS spiritual leader, the late Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, was dropped by PAS as a candidate for the 15th General Election.