Mat Razi and Wan Rosdi bump into each other while paying last respects

TUMPAT: Acrimony and rivalry were set aside when Barisan Nasional’s Mat Razi Nat Ail and PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim paid their last respects to the mother of an imam who died on Tuesday.

When Mat Razi arrived at 4.30pm, Wan Rosdi was already in the house in Kampung Kajang Sebang here, reciting Quranic verses.

“I was surprised to see him but it’s good that we met,” Mat Razi told reporters at the Barisan Medai centre later yesterday.

“We wished each other good luck in the campaign and the by-election.”

Mat Razi, 49, is facing Wan Rosdi, 57, a construction contractor, and independent candidate Izat Bukhari Ismail Bukhary in the the Pengkalan Kubor by-election, which is being held following the death of Barisan assemblyman Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar on Aug 20.

Mat Razi said he was offended when PAS went on a personal attack, alleging that he was an unknown and a “fake ustaz”.

“In the end, we are Muslims and friends coming together at an unexpected place for the common courtesy of conveying our condolences to the bereaved family,” said Mat Razi, a religious teacher and a History and Malay Letters graduate from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Deputy Barisan election machinery director Datuk Rosdi Abdul Aziz said Mat Razi was known to the local community and was a familiar face even before he was picked as the candidate.

So far, Mat Razi had covered 60% of the 8,000-odd houses in the constituency, including those in PAS strongholds, Rosdi said.

“He has no problems visiting hardcore PAS supporters at any time of the day,” he added.