BUKIT MERTAJAM, May 1 — Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election, Suhaimi Sabudin had initially refused to accept the offer to be candidate as he felt the responsibilities were too heavy.

However, the 43-year-old eventually changed his mind when he was persuaded by his family and friends.

His mother, Che Jan Ahmad said Suhaimi, the third of seven children felt the responsibilities as candidate were too heavy, especially if he won the by-election.

“He said if possible, he did not want it. All the time he was active in politics, he had no thoughts of becoming an elected representative,” she said when met at her house in Guar Jering near here today.

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Che Jan, 70, said Suhaimi’s interest in politics was due to the encouragement from his grandfather, Ahmad Din who was also politically active and had been an Umno branch head.

  “Even from young, his interest was cultivated by his grandfather who told him about Umno struggle. Now, it is his turn,” she said, adding that Suhaimi was in reality, a quiet person but liked to help others, including the people at his village in Guar Jering.

“He really likes to help people...those who had problems would meet him. He would be the first to attend a funeral or gathering. I believe that is why he was chosen as candidate as he is a responsible person and close to the local community.

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“He wants to look after the people in Permatang Pauh. As a mother, I try to encourage him. Hopefully, he is elected and can do his best,” she said.

The Permatang Pauh by-election on May 7 sees a four-cornered fight involving Suhaimi, who is Permatang Pauh Umno division secretary, Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Azman Shah Othman (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Salleh Isahak (Independent).

The parliamentary constituency has 71,890 voters, with about 70 per cent Malays. — Bernama