Saifuddin Nasution denies Padang Serai service centre signals election bid

KULIM, Jan 17 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the opening of a People’s Service Centre in Padang Serai does not mean he will contest in the parliamentary constituency in the next election.

He explained that the service centre aims to facilitate access for southern Kedah residents to federal government assistance.

"No, that is too early (to determine the seat)," Saifuddin Nasution said.

"I may contest, I may not. It may be here, it may be somewhere else. So it’s still open, I haven’t officially said that the opening of this service centre, here I’m contesting, there’s no mention of that," he added.

He spoke at a press conference after the opening ceremony of the Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail People’s Service Centre in Padang Serai last night.

Saifuddin Nasution is the secretary-general of Pakatan Harapan and chairman of the Kedah PKR State Leadership Council.

He previously won the Kulim-Bandar Baharu parliamentary seat but lost in the 15th general election.

He said the party would streamline its work this year and become an effective opposition in Kedah.

"It’s different at the centre, in Kedah we are the opposition. So we need to play an effective role as a check and balance," he said.

As joint chairman of the State Development Action Council in Kedah, he monitors federal government projects and addresses state-level issues.