Anwar facing six for PD crown

PORT DICKSON: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s way back to Parliament is a crowded field with six opponents, who include Negri Sembilan’s longest-serving Mentri Besar and a man who once accused him of sodomy.

This is the first time that polls in the Port Dickson seat will see seven candidates, including five independents. Anwar, the main draw and PKR president-elect, is contesting on a Pakatan Harapan ticket to defend the seat won by the coalition in the May 9 general election.

He was accompanied by several thousand supporters to file his nomination papers at the Port Dickson Municipal Council hall.

Also present were Anwar's wife and Deputy Prime Minister Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, several Cabinet ministers, and Mentri Besar Aminuddin Harun.

Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad, who was Negri MB for 22 years, is contesting as an independent after quitting Umno.

Anwar’s former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan – who last met him in the courtroom over sodomy charges – and PAS' Lt Kol (Rtd) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar, who is the party’s Tenggara division chief in Johor, also filed their papers to contest as independents.

The other three independents are Stevie Chan Keng Leong, Lau Seck Yan and Kan Chee Yuen.

An eighth candidate, A. Rajendra, had his nomination rejected as his proposer was not a registered voter in the constituency.

Although Returning Officer Khairy Maamor gave him an additional 30 minutes to get a proposer, he was unable to do so.

Lau was the first to file her papers after nominations opened for an hour at 9am.

She came in at 9.02am, followed by Mohd Isa, Nazari, Chan, Kan, Anwar and Saiful.

Rajendra was the last to come in at 9.59am. Anwar and Mohd Nazari will contest under their respective party symbols while the independents were allowed to pick their own logos provided by the commission.

Isa will use the chair logo, Saiful (key), Lau (rabbit), Chan (spectacles) and Kan (pen).

The by-election was triggered after Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah decided to vacate his seat to make way for PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s return to Parliament.

EC chairman Azhar Harun said the body was expecting a 70% turnout for the by-election based on the personalities involved, and campaigns carried out to get more people to exercise their constitutional right.

“We are really hoping the people will come out to vote, and they should not wait till the end although the period has been extended by 30 minutes to 5.30pm,” he said, adding that the result should be out by 10pm. He said the EC had increased the number of polling channels from 145 to 171.

“We will have three polling booths instead of two at every centre,” Azhar said.

He said the EC had also allowed 72 observers from the Electoral Reform Committee, government agencies and NGOs such as Institute Darul Ehsan, Bersih 2.0 and Engage to monitor the by-election.

Azhar advised all candidates to obtain permits from the police for every ceramah they planned.