SIMPANG RENGGAM: Two “Hafiz” are squaring off for the Machap seat.
Incumbent and caretaker Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi will have a straight fight with Pakatan Harapan candidate Nor Hafiz Roslan.
Returning officer Mohd Izzul Helmi Ahmad said the Election Commission received nomination papers from Nor Hafiz at 9.03am, while Onn Hafiz submitted his at 9.06am.
“With this, I announce that Onn Hafiz of Barisan and Nor Hafiz of Pakatan are the two candidates for the Machap state seat,” he said at the end of the nomination process at Dewan Muafakat Simpang Renggam nomination centre.
Onn Hafiz was accompanied by Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who is also his uncle, Simpang Renggam MP Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad and former Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
In the previous state election, Onn Hafiz won in a four-cornered fight against Perikatan Nasional’s Azlisham Azahar, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air’s Datuk Dr Sharuddin Md Salleh and Muda’s R. Sangaran.
When met by reporters, Onn Hafiz, who is state Barisan chairman, said the nomination process for all 56 state seats had gone smoothly.
“I wish all candidates the best and we should continue to campaign harmoniously over the next two weeks,” he said.
He also congratulated all candidates vying for seats in the election for keeping things harmonious.
Asked whether he is confident of winning the straight fight, Onn Hafiz said anything can happen.
“We need to give it our all,” he added.
Meanwhile, Nor Hafiz is unfazed about having to go against a heavyweight.
“After I was given the mandate from the party to contest this seat, I had already told myself I’m entering the election to win,” he said.
