Khairuddin soldiers on

Party’s choice: Dr Alias meeting supporters after submitting his nomination forms at Dewan Perdana, Kuala Nerus. — Bernama

KUALA TERENGGANU: Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali was jeered by supporters of his former party at the nomination centre, but the Kuala Nerus incumbent was unfazed.

The former PAS central committee member, who will be contesting on a Barisan Nasional ticket, will face off against former comrade PAS’ Datuk Dr Alias Razak, Datuk Seri Suhaimi Hashim of Pakatan Harapan and Azaha Wahid of Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia.

“That is nothing. This is how politics is.

“What’s important is we remain brothers and sisters even though we are different,” he said when asked about the negative reaction by PAS supporters soon after his name was announced as a candidate.

Asked whether he is concerned about being boycotted by his voters, Khairuddin said he would leave everything in the hands of God.

“I will leave everything to God. I am convinced that if they are Barisan supporters, they will want the party to win big.

“Don’t vote for me, vote for Barisan,” he said.

Khairuddin had in GE14 won the seat under PAS with 37,974 votes – a majority of 8,447.

He, however, left the Islamist party in March this year.

With 922,856 registered voters, Terengganu has eight parliamentary seats – six of which are currently being held by PAS while the other two seats are under Barisan.

Terengganu is one of the many states that opted not to dissolve its state assembly.

Seven of the seats will see a four-cornered fight while Dungun will have a five-cornered fight.

Lawyer Ghazali Ismail will be the only independent candidate competing in the state; the rest are candidates from Barisan, Perikatan Nasional, Pakatan and Gerakan Tanah Air.

In Marang, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang will face newcomer Jasmira Othman (Barisan), Dr Zarawi Sulong (Pejuang) and Azhar Ab Shukur (Pakatan).

Abdul Hadi said that he will be ramping up social media campaigning to reach younger voters.

“We realise that the role of social media is important.

“We will be approaching the younger generation differently, according to segments such as rural and urban voters,” he said after the candidate announce- ment in Marang District and Land office.

Meanwhile, Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister and Bersatu’s sole candidate in Terengganu, Datuk Rosol Wahid, will face off against three educators in Hulu Terengganu.

Rosol, who is a former teacher himself, won the seat with a majority of 2,868 after receiving 30,925 votes in GE14 in 2018.