Mohd Shariff set for Tasek Gelugor

BUTTERWORTH: Former Penang Umno strongman Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar (pic) is set to contest the Tasek Gelugor seat in the general election.

The Tasek Gelugor Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia division unanimously nominated Mohd Shariff during a March 17 meeting.

It is believed the division only nominated his name although each division was asked to nominate three persons. It is also believed that Pakatan Harapan has chosen him as the candidate.

The Pribumi permanent chairman, who lost his deposit as an Independent candidate in the 2013 general election, said it would be different this time around as he would have the Pribumi machinery behind him.

“I only contested in 2013 to protest against Umno, but with Pribumi I can run a more organised and concerted campaign,” he said.

The seasoned politician, who won the Tasek Gelugor seat under the Barisan Nasional ticket in 1990, only polled 1,590 votes.

Umno’s Datuk Shabudin Yahya obtained 24,393 votes, while PAS’ Abdul Rahman Maidin came close with 21,351 votes.

Mohd Shariff, 70, was a former Penang state exco member and also Deputy Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Minister.

He is upbeat about winning the seat again. “I have been engaging the villagers on the ground,” he said.

Talk is rife that Umno might field a new candidate in Tasek Gelugor in place of Shabudin.