GUA MUSANG, Aug 3 — The Nenggiri state by-election in Kelantan will see a straight fight between candidates from Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS.
BN is fielding Kelantan Umno Youth chief Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, representing the Unity Government, while ex-Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officer Mohd Rizwadi Ismail is the PAS candidate.
Both candidates were announced as eligible to contest by Returning Officer Nik Raisnan Daud after the nomination process was completed at 10am today at Dewan Perdana, Kompleks Perdana, Gua Musang District Council, here.
The by-election was called following a casual vacancy announced by Kelantan State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah on June 19, after its incumbent Mohd Azizi Abu Naim ceased to be a member of Bersatu on June 13.
In the 15th Kelantan State Election last year, Azizi, contesting under the PAS banner, defeated BN candidate Ab Aziz Yusoff with a majority of 810 votes.
Nik Raisnan announced that Rizwadi, 41, was the first candidate to submit his nomination papers at 9.02am, followed by Azmawi, 38, at 9.08am.
Earlier, Azmawi, clad in a blue Baju Melayu outfit, arrived at the nomination centre at 9.05am, accompanied by BN chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Amanah vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar and Gua Musang Umno division chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Also present to support the BN candidate were Umno leaders Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
Rizwadi, the former Gua Musang PAS Youth deputy chief who just joined Bersatu before being selected to represent Perikatan Nasional (PN), arrived at 9am.
He was accompanied by PN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. Bersatu, a component of PN along with PAS and Gerakan, have been contesting on PAS’ ticket in elections in Kelantan.
Also present were Nenggiri PN by-election operations director Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Bersatu leaders, including Secretary-General Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Thousands of supporters accompanied both candidates, gathering as early as 7am at the nomination centre compound before marching together to the nomination centre while reciting prayers and chanting party slogans.
The Election Commission (EC) has set polling day on August 17, while early voting on August 13 will not be held as all 14 voters involved have opted to vote by post due to their duties during the campaign period.
The campaign period is set for 14 days, starting today until 11.59pm on August 16.
The Nenggiri constituency has 20,259 registered voters, 20,245 ordinary voters and 14 police personnel.
The seat has been contested since 2004, with BN winning four out of the five elections, the last victory by Azizi.
— Bernama
