Four-way fight for Permatang Pauh
(Malay Mail Online) – It’s going to be a four-cornered tussle for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, with incumbent PKR taking on challengers from Barisan Nasional (BN), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and one independent.
Returning officer Husni Ismail announced at the end of the nomination process at 10.30am that voters will have the choice of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail of PKR, Suhaimi Sabudin for BN, PRM’s Azman Shah Othman or independent Salleh Isahak come polling day on May 7.
Dr Wan Azizah, 62, is looking at making a return to Permatang Pauh – which she held in PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s stead after he was sentenced to six years’ jail in 1999 for corruption.
This coming by-election was called following Anwar’s recent incarceration for sodomising a former aide.
Suhaimi, 44, is a local businessman and Guar Jering Umno chief, and was also formerly the Permatang Pauh Umno Youth deputy chief.
It was only made clear that Azman, a 50-year-old businessman from Bandar Perda, was contesting under the PRM banner after the announcement by the returning officer.
Penang PRM chief Datuk Gary Nair had said yesterday that the party was not fielding any candidates out of support of PR.
Salleh, 53, a training consultant and president of Bakti Ikhlas Malaysia Association, is an ordinary member of Alma Umno and from Permatang Pasir.
“I’m contesting to contribute towards social, religious and welfare development of the constituency,” he said.
Independent candidate Dr Abdullah Zawawi Samsudin, who had previously contested and lost his deposit for the seat in the previous election, arrived around 9.30am but decided not to contest after seeing two other independent candidates inside the nomination hall.
Thousands of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and BN supporters started gathering at two different meeting points near the nomination centre as early as 8am this morning.
Supporters from both PR and BN had earlier marched to the centre at around 8am amidst drumbeats and shouts of each party’s respective slogans.
However, only up to 100 supporters per party are allowed within the compound of the nomination centre manned by a heavy police presence.
Barb wires were also laid near the nomination centre to stop supporters from going past the cordoned off area in front of the nomination centre.
Permatang Pauh has been a PKR stronghold since Wan Azizah led the party to take the seat back in the 1999 general election.
A total of 71,890 registered voters in Permatang Pauh will cast their vote for their new MP on May 7, while early polls is on May 3.
