(Updated) GE15: PH’s Padang Serai Candidate Karupaiya dies

The late Karupaiya Mutusami raising a question at the last Parliamentary session.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 – Karupaiya Mutusami, Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for the Padang Serai Parliamentary seat in the coming 15th General Election has died, Keadilan Secretary General Saifuddin Nasution informed in a statement today.

Saifuddin said Karupaiya died this afternoon at the Kulim General Hospital, Kedah, where he had been warded after he had fainted suddenly on November 14. He had earlier delivered a campaign speech along with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Kulim.

The 69-year old former armed forces man died while serving with his party to make the country a better place, Saifuddin said, expressing his condolences to the family of Karupaiya on behalf of all Keadilan Rakyat and Pakatan Harapan party.

Known for his patriotic spirit and dedication to the party, Karupaiya won the Padang Serai Parliamentary seat in 2018.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission in a statement today said it has received the news of the death of the incumbent MP of Padang Serai. It said it will convene a special meeting this Friday, November 18, to decide on the dates for the Padang Serai election.

In accordance with the Article 11 (6) of the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981, the death of a candidate between nomination and polling would require the EC to restart the process.

–WE