With papers in, six candidates hit the campaign trail running
JOHOR BARU: The starter gun has fired and campaigning for the two by-elections in the state has kicked off, with six contenders including two Independents throwing in their lot.
Some of the candidates hit the campaign trail soon after filing their nomination papers yesterday.
Independents aside, as nominations closed yesterday, it was apparent that the real face-off will be between Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional in the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats.
In Pulai, former Johor legislative assembly speaker Suhaizan Kaiat, who is Johor Amanah vice-chairman, will be facing Pulai Bersatu deputy chief Zulkifli Jaafar.
Persatuan Keselamatan Pengguna Kuala Lumpur president Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi, 47, is contesting as an Independent.
In Simpang Jeram, Nazri Abdul Rahman, who is the Bakri Amanah deputy chairman, will be facing Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya, a PAS central committee member. The Independent there is businessman S. Jeganathan.
Suhaizan, 50, is perhaps the most experienced candidate as this will be his seventh election since 2004, although he has never won. In 2013, he contested both the Kempas state seat and the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat.
Dr Mohd Mazri, 54, is contesting for the third time while the Independent candidates Samsudin, 47, and Jeganathan, 55, are also familiar faces with both contesting for the second and third time respectively.
The candidates: (From left) Jeganathan, Nazri and Dr Mohd Mazri will vie for the Simpang Jeram state seat. Meanwhile, for the Pulai parliamentary seat, it is a three-cornered fight between (bottom pic) Suhaizan (left), Samsudin and Zulkifli. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
The fresh faces this time around are Zulkifli, 50, and Nazri, 56.
To any casual observer, the real fight is between Suhaizan and Zulkifli in Pulai, and Nazri and Dr Mohd Mazri in Simpang Jeram.
Both seats are considered mixed seats.
These four candidates have already been making their presence felt in both areas – attending events, having walkabouts and giving talks.
Leaders from both coalitions said these would not be easy by-elections and they could not take things for granted.
“The stakes are high for the unity government with Barisan as a coalition partner as it has always won in by-elections in the state,” a local leader said, adding that Perikatan was also trying hard to penetrate the state via its “green wave” following the recently concluded elections in six states.
Pressure is also on Johor Umno to ensure it can convince its members to vote for the Pakatan candidate.
This will be the state’s 10th by-election since Independence. The last one was the Tanjung Piai by-election in 2019.
Polling in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram parliamentary and state by-elections will be on Sept 9.
The by-election was triggered after Pulai MP and Simpang Jeram assemblyman Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, 61, died on July 23 of a brain haemorrhage.
He was also the Amanah deputy president and had served as domestic trade and cost of living minister.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said the campaign period would run until 11.59pm on Sept 8.
“The EC has also introduced two campaign enforcement teams in Pulai and one in Simpang Jeram to oversee the campaign process throughout this period.
“All campaign materials are allowed as long as they do not touch on sensitive issues, especially the 3R (race, religion and royalty),” he said, adding that action would be taken under the Election Offences Act 1954.
“We hope that those involved in the by-elections will abide by the rules and ensure a harmonious situation for all,” he said in a statement.
Earlier yesterday, Pulai parliamentary returning officer Miswan Yunus said he had received the nomination papers from the three candidates at 9.08am and none of the papers had been rejected.
Meanwhile, at 10.13am returning officer Jamil Hasni Abdullah said he received the nomination papers from the three Simpang Jeram candidates between 9.04am and 9.18am. None was rejected.
The Pulai constituency has 165,313 voters comprising 75,724 (45%), Chinese 67,467 (41%), Indian 20,713 (12%), others 2,749 (2%).
Simpang Jeram has 40,014 voters comprising 51.87% Malays, 44.58% Chinese, 2.53% Indians and 0.99% others.
