Seven nomination forms sold as by-election gears up

Final touch-ups: A worker putting up a banner at the nomination centre at Felda Kemasul.— Bernama

BENTONG: The Pelangai state by-election begins today with the nomination process at the Felda Kemasul Public Hall here.

Potential candidates will be given an hour from 9am to 10am to submit their nomination papers, before the list of eligible candidates is announced by the Election Commission’s (EC) returning officer.

According to the EC, seven sets of nomination forms have been sold as at Sept 18, namely three sets each bought by representatives of Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional, and one set by an organisation, reported Bernama.

Barisan and Perikatan have selected seasoned grassroots leaders as their candidates for the Oct 7 by-election.

Barisan is pinning its hopes on Felda Chemomoi resident, 50-year-old Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, to defend the seat that was won by Barisan in the 15th General Election (GE15) last year.

Amizar had been Barisan’s candidate for Ketari in GE15 but he lost that contest. Ketari and Pelangai are both part of the Bentong parliamentary constituency.

Perikatan has once again chosen as its candidate Bentong PAS vice-president Kasim Samat, who contested but lost in Pelangai in GE15. Kasim, 63, had lost to Barisan’s Datuk Seri Johari Harun by a majority of 4,048 votes.

The by-election was called following Johari’s death in a plane crash in Shah Alam, Selangor on Aug 17.

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

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

Pahang Meteorological Department director Nazian Zainal Abidin has forecast clear skies in the morning for Pelangai.

However, thunderstorms and rain are expected in the area in the afternoon and evening, Nazian said.