KUALA TERENGGANU: Rivals in Terengganu will slug it out in three-way contests for all the 40 parliamentary and state seats.
While Pakatan Harapan has pitched in for the 10-day battle until polling day on May 9, the fight in this east coast state will be between Barisan Nasional and PAS.
However, despite the intense competition expected ahead in this year’s election, the submission of papers on nomination day was without drama.
At the Kuala Nerus nomination centre, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman was the first candidate to submit his papers at 9.05am.
He is standing his ground in the Seberang Takir state seat against PAS’ Mohd Fazil Wahab and PKR’s Lt Kol (Rtd) Abu Bakar Abdullah.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang will be defending the Marang parliamentary seat against Barisan’s Mohamad Nor Endot and Amanah’s Dr Zarawi Sulong.
For the first time since 1986, Abdul Hadi will not be contesting in the state seat of Ru Rendang, making way instead for his political secretary, aerospace expert Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
In the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat, state Amanah chief Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Ahmad Shah will try to fend off Barisan’s Datuk Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail and PAS’ Ahmad Amzad Mohamed from the constituency he won under the PAS ticket in GE13.
He will face Abdul Hadi’s son, Muhammad Khalil, in the Batu Buruk state seat which Barisan’s Zamri Awang Hitam is also vying for.
At the Kemaman parliamentary seat, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek will be going up against PKR’s Mohd Huzaifah Md Suhaimi and PAS’ Che Alias Hamid.
Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said will try to head off Pribumi’s Datuk Seri Wan Marzuki Wan Sembok and PAS’ Hazri Jusoh for the Kijal state seat.
Earlier, party supporters arrived in the thousands at all the eight nomination centres in the state.
In comparison, smaller crowds of between 40 and 150 people accompanied Pakatan candidates.
Waving flags and banners, the supporters chanted their party slogans but the situation was under control.
