Seri Setia by-election: Straight fight between PH, PAS
PETALING JAYA: The Seri Setia state by-election to be held on Sept 8 will witness a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Pas.
PH is fielding former Petaling Jaya City Council member Halimey Abu Bakar, 46, while Pas’ candidate is former Selangor state executive council member , Dr Halimah Ali, 58.
Returning officer Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain made the announcement at 10.37am at the nomination centre at Dewan Sivik Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MPBJ) here yesterday.
Mohd Azizi said the nomination paper by the PH candidate was received at 9.10am and 9.15am from the Pas candidate.
The nomination, which was opened at 9am, closed at 10 am.
Earlier, leaders and supporters from both parties gathered as early as 7.30am to lend support to their respective candidates.
Halimey arrived at the nomination centre at about 7.40am, accompanied by his family members and among leaders present in a show of support for him were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.
Dr Halimah, who arrived at 9am, was accompanied to the polling centre by party supporters who included deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, vicepresident Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad and secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.
Among those seen present to lend support to her were several Umno leaders, including vicepresident and Selangor Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The heavy rain did not hamper the spirit of supporters from both parties to gather and accompany their respective candidate to the nomination centre.
The Seri Setia state by-election was called following the death of its incumbent assemblyman Prof Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin last Aug 2 due to colon cancer.
In the 14th general election on May 9, Shaharuddin , of PKR, obtained 29,250 votes and defeated BN candidate Datuk Yusoff HM Haniff, who obtained 9,878 votes, Pas’ Mohd Ghazali Daud (4,563 votes) and Independent candidate Dr S Vignes (217 votes).
A total of 895 election workers were appointed to handle the Seri Setia by-election, estimated to cost RM1.59 million.
The Seri Setia state constituency has 53,492 registered voters, comprising 50,692 ordinary voters, early voters (2,770) and 30 absentee voters. — Bernama