FOUR-CORNERED FIGHT IN REMBAU
BN won’t prepare new manifesto as there are no big issues in Rantau, says Mohamad
THE Rantau by-election will feature a four-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and two independent candidates.
Representing BN is Umno acting president and three-term Rantau assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is touted to be the favourite to win the election.
He is going up against Rembau PKR deputy chief Dr S. Streram, who is representing PH, and independent candidates R. Malarvizhi and Mohd Nor Yassin.
Returning officer Mohd Nizam Tajul Arus announced the candidates at 10.29am at the nomination
centre at SJK(C) Bandar Seri Sendayan here yesterday.
Mohamad, fondly known as Tok Mat, said no new BN manifestos would be prepared for the byelection.
“There are no big issues in Rantau. The majority of the facilities have been provided here.
“I just want to highlight the importance of having a strong opposition team to play an effective role of check and balance against the current government.”
Mohamad was accompanied by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Ahmad Maslan, together with other Umno and Pas leaders.
The by-election was called after the Federal Court dismissed an appeal by Mohamad to set aside an Election Court decision to declare his victory in the 14th General Election null and void.
Mohamad had won the seat uncontested in May last year after Dr Streram was unable to submit his nomination papers after being denied entry into the nomination centre for not having a pass issued by the Election Commission.
Dr Streram yesterday said he was pleased that his second attempt to contest the Rantau state seat proceeded without a hitch.
“I am quite pleased that my nomination papers were accepted and I will fully utilise this opportunity given by PH as best as possible.”
Present to lend support to Dr Streram were PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as well as PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Also present was Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Dr Streram put his chances of winning the polls at between 60 and 70 per cent despite the entry of two independent candidates.
One of the independents, Mohd Nor, said he planned to bring more Islam-based developments to Rantau if he won.
“Every candidate aims to win, but the most important thing is to celebrate and utilise our country’s democracy.”
The other independent, Malarvizhi, said she would not campaign for the next few days as a sign of protest against PH and BN.
“I want to remain silent to protest against what Pakatan did in Semenyih and what BN did in Cameron Highlands.
“Their candidates there were not allowed to speak,” she claimed.
Political analyst Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, from Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the independents were of no threat to BN and PH.
“BN and PH have the machinery, logistics and loyal supporters in Rantau.”
The nomination process was not free of incident, as a shouting match between BN and PH supporters nearly ended up in a fight.
The incident happened when supporters began to breach the 100m gap between the two camps, which saw the red and blue squads of PH and BN nearly colliding.
It is learnt that BN supporters were unhappy when PH supporters shouted “tolak bossku” (reject bossku ) and “bossku pencuri” (bossku is a thief), believed to be in reference to former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s social media tagline of “malu apa bossku”.
This led to BN supporters attempting to go near PH’s camp outside the nomination centre.
Police were quick to act, putting up steel barriers in between the two camps to ensure nothing untoward happened.
Both camps then belted out “terima kasih abang polis ” in a show of gratitude for the police’s quick action in deffusing the tension.
The seat has 20,926 registered voters, including 118 early voters and four absentee voters.