GEORGE TOWN: The Election Commission (EC) has confirmed that a total of 58 candidates, including six independents, will contest the 13 parliamentary seats in the state in the 15th general election (GE15).
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who has just recovered from Covid-19, was present at the nomination centre in the Seberang Perai Vocational College today to submit his nomination form for the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.
Based on today’s nomination for parliamentary seats in Penang, there will be a six-cornered fight in Jelutong, Bayan Baru and Balik Pulau; a five-way battle in Tasek Gelugor, Batu Kawan and Bukit Bendera; a four-cornered fight in Kepala Batas, Bagan, Permatang Pauh and Nibong Tebal; and a three-way tussle in Bukit Mertajam, Tanjong and Bukit Gelugor.
Besides Chow, who is the Penang DAP chairman, other political party leaders contesting include Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (Kepala Batas); DAP central chairman Lim Guan Eng (Bagan); PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang Pauh); and Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong (Bayan Baru).
The six independents contesting the five parliamentary constituencies are Goh Kheng Huat (Nibong Tebal); Razalif Mohamad Zain (Bukit Bendera); Mohamed Yacoob Mohamed Noor (Jelutong); Kan Chee Yuen (Bayan Baru), as well as Datuk Seri Johnny Ch’ng Ewe Gee and Datuk Seri Sabaruddin Ahmad (Balik Pulau).
As for the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary constituency, which is considered the hottest seat in the state, Sungai Dua state assemblyman Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Nor of Barisan Nasional (BN) will be defending the traditional Umno seat.
Muhamad Yusoff, who is also Tasek Gelugor Umno Division chief, will be challenged by Perikatan Nasional (PN) representative from Bersatu Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan; Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate from Amanah Nik Abdul Razak Nik Md Ridzuan; Warisan’s Mohd Akmal Azhar and Pejuang’s Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Sher Jung.
Muhamad Yusof believes that BN has a bright chance of defending the seat despite the five-cornered fight and the fact that the BN candidate only won by a majority of 81 votes in GE14.
"I am confident I have the advantage compared to the other candidates because I am a local who is well-known among the locals, having served here for a long time,” he said after the nomination process here today.
Meanwhile, Penang Police chief Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said they are pleased that the nomination process went smoothly today.
"No unwanted incidents occurred and there were also no provocations involving party supporters today. All candidates and their supporters gave us their cooperation,” he said.
Penang has about 1.2 million registered voters and the EC has fixed Nov 19 as polling day and Nov 15 for early voting. - Bernama
