GEORGE TOWN – PKR Wanita chief and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has won the Nibong Tebal division chief post in her first attempt, securing 677 votes in a three-way race. Her rivals, Muttaqeen Mustafa and Muhammad Navalan Abdullah, received 335 and 72 votes, respectively.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister I and Batu Maung assemblyman Mohamad Abdul Hamid also won his first contest, clinching the Tasek Gelugor division chief post with 412 votes, defeating former division treasurer Muhammad Zakwan Mustafa Kamal, who received 319 votes.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin retained his division chief position with a strong 1,032 votes, fending off Cheah Peng Guan (425 votes) in a straight fight.
However, Balik Pulau MP Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik lost his division chief seat to his former deputy, Mohd Tuah Ismail. Tuah, a former Pulau Betong assemblyman, won with 864 votes to Bakhtiar’s 727.
In Jelutong, state executive councillor and assemblyman Fahmi Zainol narrowly lost his challenge to incumbent Datuk Johari Kassim, who retained the post with 208 votes to Fahmi’s 181.
Meanwhile, Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan won the Tanjong division chief post, defeating Shafiz Rahim Raja with 341 votes to 260.
Thirteen PKR divisions across Penang held their party elections yesterday, including for the Youth and Wanita wings. The party’s central election committee (JPP) reported an 85% voter turnout as of 5pm. – April 20, 2025