PORT DICKSON (Bernama): The 4th Mile Farmers' Market at Bagan Pinang here became the ground of “attack” for three candidates of the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election.
The first to arrive at the market, which opens as early as 7 am, was Anwar's former aide turned sodomy accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who arrived there at about 7.50am.
Wearing a dark blue shirt, the independent candidate mingled with patrons at the market for about 30 minutes before leaving the area.
Half an hour later, PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate, arrived after he had done some morning jogging at Teluk Kemang Beach (at Port Dickson's 7th Mile).
He spent about 45 minutes mingling with the crowd at the market and also sat for breakfast at a stall there.
He also showed his talent in making roti canai and a kuih called lempeng, which was received with cheers and applause from his supporters.
As soon as Anwar left, which was about 9.30 am, PAS candidate Lt Col (Rtd) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar appeared and was there for about 30 minutes.
According to the local traders, the wet market is a compulsory location for election candidates to visit because it is the place where they get to meet a large number of their voters.
Fruit trader Khairul Afzal Mohd Rais, 36, said the presence of the candidates helped to boost their sales.
“It's a lively morning in the market today as the presence of the candidates drew more people to come. the people came not just to do their marketing, but to watch the candidates,” he told Bernama.
Despite the hot weather, locals flooded the wet market and were excited to meet the three by-election candidates, some taking the opportunity to shake their hands and have selfies with them.
The Port Dickson parliamentary by-election on Oct 13 will see a seven-cornered fight involving Saiful, Anwar, Nazari and four other independent candidates, including former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad. -- Bernama
