Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he understood that PKR, which is one of the coalition parties, had started meetings in preparation for the by-election.

Chow, who is also the Penang chief minister, said the state DAP would leave it to PKR to choose the candidate as the party had contested the seat in the state election last August.

“We have not made an official decision yet but our understanding is that the party that contested earlier is given priority,” he told reporters outside the Penang state legislative assembly here today.

He was confident the solid cooperation among the parties in the unity government, consisting of DAP, PKR and Barisan Nasional, will give the coalition an advantage in reclaiming the Sungai Bakap seat.

The incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff, 56, died last Friday while being treated at Hospital Seberang Jaya due to an inflammation in the stomach.

In the state election last August, Zamri, who was Nibong Tebal PAS chief, defeated Pakatan Harapan candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose with a majority of 1,563 votes.

Penang PAS commissioner Fauzi Yusoff told reporters the party would hold a meeting to discuss preparations for the by-election in the near future.

In Shanghai, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is on an official visit to China, said they would mobilise their election machinery for the by-election.

Meanwhile, Election Commission secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak said it will hold a special meeting on June 6 to discuss the important dates for the by-election.