Candidates for Penanti by-election arrive at nomination centre

(The Star) – Bukit Mertajam: Four candidates for the Penanti by-election have arrived at the nomination centre at the Youth Skills Development Institute here to file in their papers.

The earliest to arrive was former Penang PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah, who arrived at 7.45am.

PKR candidate Mansor Othman arrived at 8.45am while the two independent candidates – businessman Mohd Saberi Othman, 49, and company manager Nai-Khan Ari, 41, – came earlier.

They were greeted by their supporters at the nomination centre.

The Penanti state by-election here is likely to see a four-cornered fight between state deputy PKR chief Mansor Othman and three independent candidates.

Barisan Nasional has decided on May 18 to sit out on the by-election.

According to the 2008 electoral roll that was updated on April 16, the seat has a total of 15,384 registered voters, including 24 postal voters.

The electorate comprises 72.68% Malays, 24.22% Chinese, 2.39% Indians and 0.71% others.

As at Friday, five people have collected nomination papers for the by-election.

The Penanti seat fell vacant after Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin quit as assemblyman on April 16 after stepping down as Penang Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) I on April 8.