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JOHOR BARU – The eldest son of former Johor menteri besar Datuk Osman Sapian, Nornekman, has hinted that he is ready to contest in the upcoming state election.
Nornekman, 47, who is also the Johor Pejuang deputy chief, said that contesting on a different political party’s ticket would not hinder him from continuing his late father’s legacy to serve the community.
“I am ready to contest and if possible, I want to be the candidate for the Kempas constituency because the people there were very close to our hearts during the three terms my late father served as their elected representative.
“However, I will abide by any decision made by the party leadership,” he told reporters at the party’s office here today.
Osman, who was the Kempas assemblyman, died in Kuala Lumpur on December 21. He was admitted to KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital in October after suffering a mild stroke and was later treated at Universiti Putra Malaysia Teaching Hospital, Selangor in November.
Commenting on Pejuang’s electoral debut in Johor, Nornekman said the party wanted to present victory to its chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and hoped that his health condition would continue to improve.
Yesterday, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, the eldest daughter of the former prime minister, said Dr Mahathir’s health showed further improvement and that he has been transferred to the normal ward at the National Heart Institute.
Meanwhile, Nornekman said Johor Pejuang would ensure that the candidates chosen to represent the party in the state polls would not make any mistakes that would affect its campaign, especially during nomination day.
“As a preparatory measure, the legal bureau will provide training to all parties involved, because every time there is an election, we hear news of negligence such as candidates filling out nomination forms wrongly, missing identity cards, and so on. Pejuang will make sure things like these do not happen,” he said.
Last Saturday, Johor Pejuang chief Datuk Saharuddin Mohd Salleh said the party will run solo in the state election and plans to contest 42 out of the 56 seats up for grabs. – Bernama, January 27, 2022