NIBONG TEBAL, July 8 — Amid the fast-paced campaign activities for the Sungai Bakap state by-election, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) football team led by Deputy Energy and Water Transitions Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir secured a 3-2 victory in a friendly match today against Perikatan Nasional (PN) top eleven led by Kedah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. The nearly one-hour match at the Taman Pekatra field in Simpang Ampat saw participation from local and central youth leaders, including former national striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and 2016 Puskas FIFA Award winner Mohd Faiz Subri.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Akmal Nasrullah highlighted the programme’s success as a positive indicator of mature political campaigns, reducing provocation and extremism. Muhammad Sanusi echoed similar sentiments, describing the match as a beginning of greater cooperation in the future, helping to lower the intensity of the campaign atmosphere. The Sungai Bakap state by-election, scheduled for July 6, will see a straight fight between PH candidate Dr. Joohari Ariffin and PN candidate Abidin Ismail following the death of the incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff.
