GE15: Atmosphere calm and cordial at Najib's old constituency despite five-corner fight

PEKAN: With Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak out of the running for the first time since 1976, the Pekan parliamentary seat will be highly contested with five candidates vying for votes.

The five are Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali from Barisan Nasional, Mohd Naim Zainal Abidin from Pakatan Harapan, Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim from Perikatan Nasional, Datuk Mohammad Radhi Abdul Razak from Pejuang and Independent candidate Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin.

Pekan Election Commision officer Datuk Zaliza Zulkipli announced the parliamentary candidates as well as those running for state seats at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Convention Hall in Pekan at 12.44pm, almost three hours after nominations closed.

Only one candidate had his papers rejected - Pejuang's Mohammad Radhi who was also hoping to run for the Pulau Manis (N20) state seat along with Barisan's Datuk Khairuddin Mahmud, Perikatan's Mohammad Rafiq Khan Ahmad Khan and Pakatan's Mohd Khairil Khalid who, at 33, was the youngest candidate this time in Pahang.

Najib's eldest son Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib will be contesting the Peramu Jaya state seat (N21) for Barisan. He will be running against Harapan's Tigumon Abdul Hamid, Abu Talib Muhammad from Perikatan and Independent candidate Tengku Zainul Hisham.

The Bebar state seat (N22) on the other hand will see a three-corner fight between incumbent Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff (Barisan), Amanah's Ibrahim Sulaiman for Pakatan and Narzatul Haidarsakim for Perikatan Nasional.

Meanwhile the (N23) Chini seat will be contested by Mohd Sharim Md Zain from Barisan, Mohamad Yazid Che Mat from Pakatan and Fahrur Rozi from Perikatan.

The atmosphere in the hall was calm and cordial, with opposing candidates even hugging each other and wishing each other the best.

Outside the convention hall, supporters from Barisan, Perikatan and Pakatan stood in different sections of the large tarmac area, each taking turns to chant their party slogans and sing songs.