The stage is set – the fight for Tanjung Piai begins
Candidates waste little time in hitting the campaign trail
PONTIAN: With the whistle blown, campaigning for the Tanjung Piai by-election has started with six contenders throwing in their lot.
Nomination closed yesterday, showing that this by-election is a crowded affair with candidacy from Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng, 55, Pakatan Harapan’s Karmaine Sardini, 66, Gerakan’s Wendy Subramaniam, 38, Berjasa president Datuk Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz, 56, plus independent candidates Dr Ang Chuan Lock, 49, and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar, 43.
Some of them were already hitting the campaign trail soon after filing their nomination papers yesterday. Others appeared to be still trying to find their footing in organising their walkabouts.
To any casual observer, the real fight is between Wee and Karmaine, who is from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
Both candidates were already making their presence felt in Kukup and Pekan Nanas, doing walkabouts and giving talks.
Leaders from both sides say that this would not be an easy by-election and they could not take things for granted.
“The stakes are high for Barisan as they have always won in all the by-elections in Johor,” a local leader said, adding that similarly, Bersatu also could not afford to lose its seat too.
This will be the state’s ninth by-election since independence. The last one was the Tenang by-election in 2011.
Polling in the Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election will be held on Nov 16 with early voting on Nov 12.
The by-election was triggered after the MP, Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, died of heart complications on Sept 21.
Dr Md Farid won the seat in the previous general election, edging out Wee and PAS’ Nordin Othman in a three-way contest.
At the nomination centre yesterday, Election Commission’s returning officer Zulkifly Mohd Tahir confirmed that the six candidates had submitted their nomination papers.
Karmaine, who is the Tanjung Piai Bersatu division chief, was the first to do so at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim, Jalan Dewan, at 9.03am.
Minutes later, Wee, who is Tanjung Piai MCA chief, followed suit.
This was followed by Badhrulhisham, Ang, Wendy and Faridah Aryani .
“The EC is satisfied that all six candidates have met the requirements and can stand as candidates for the Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election,” Zulkifly said.