Nomination for Pelangai by-election on Sept 23

BENTONG: The Pelangai state by-election will begin tomorrow (Sept 23) with the nomination process at the Felda Kemasul Public Hall.

Potential candidates will be given an hour from 9am to 10 am to submit their nomination papers, before the list of eligible candidates is announced by the returning officer at the nomination centre.

According to the Pahang Election Commission (EC), seven sets of nomination forms have been sold as of Sept 18, namely three sets each bought by representatives of Umno and Perikatan Nasional and one set by an organisation.

Barisan Nasional and Perikatan each announced experienced candidates, with both having contested in the last 15th General Election (GE15).

Barisan is betting on Bentong Umno Committee member Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, 50, who is a native of Felda Chemomoi located in the Pelangai state constituency, to defend the party's stronghold.

Perikatan has once again chosen Bentong PAS vice-president Kasim Samat as its candidate for the Pelangai by-election.

Kasim, 63, had contested the Pelangai state seat during GE15 and lost to Barisan’s Datuk Seri Johari Harun with a majority of 4,048 votes.

Pertubuhan Suara Anak Pahang president Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli, 36, has expressed his intention to contest in Pelangai as an Independent candidate.

The Pelangai by-election, which will take place on Oct 7, is held following Johari’s death in a plane crash in Shah Alam, Selangor on Aug 17.

A total of 16,456 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the by-election, including 36 policemen and three absentee voters.- Bernama