SEBERANG PERAI, April 28 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) candidate for Penaga state seat, Yaakob Osman, was disqualified from contesting after the Election Commission (EC) found he was declared a bankrupt.

Yaakob, who was supposed to contest under the PKR logo said he was shocked to find out that he had insolvency issues.

"I checked my status twice and I checked again last night,” the PPBM state information chief told reporters outside the nomination centre after he was disqualified.

"I will discuss with my lawyers on my next course of action,” he said.

Yaacob’s disqualification made way for a straight fight between BN incumbent assemblyman Datuk Mohd Zain Ahmad and PAS candidate Yusni Mat Piah.

Penaga is a state seat under the Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency.

Earlier, BN candidates for Kepala Batas and state seats, Bertam, Penaga and Pinang Tunggal arrived at the nomination centre at 8am accompanied by the former prime minister and Kepala Batas MP Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who turned up to show his support.

Incumbent Kepala Batas MP Datuk Seri Reezal Merican will be defending the seat against Parti Amanah’s Dr Zaidi Zakaria and PAS’ Siti Mastura Muhammad.

Dr Zaidi, who is representing Pakatan Harapan, will be contesting under PKR’s logo.

For the Bertam state seat, BN incumbent assemblyman Shariful Azhar Othman will be defending the seat against PPBM’s Khalid Mehtab Mohd Ishaq and PAS’ Mokhtar Ramli.

Khalid will also be contesting under the PKR logo.

Finally, for the Pinang Tunggal state seat, BN incumbent Datuk Roslan Saidin will be defending the seat against PKR’s Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman and PAS’ Bukhori Ghazali.