GUA MUSANG: Former Navy man Mohd Rizwadi Ismail, 41, has been announced as Perikatan Nasional’s candidate for the Nenggiri state by-election on Aug 17.
The announcement was made by Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud during an event at a mosque in Gua Musang on Monday (July 29).
According to Nassuruddin, Rizwadi was a local who is currently residing with his family of one wife and five children in the Nenggiri state constituency.
Nassuruddin said the 41-year-old had served as a navy man in Pahang, Sabah and Perak.
“After retiring, he and his family have since resided in Nenggiri. He has also been active with the local Gua Musang community, particularly in Nenggiri,” said Nassuruddin.
Rizwadi, who hails from Bersatu, will be contesting under the PAS logo and will be up against Kelantan Umno youth chief Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani.
Nassuruddin said local voters had made the right decision by voting for Perikatan in the state polls last year, but its incumbent assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim had betrayed the people’s mandate by backing the Federal Government despite being a Bersatu member.
“Therefore, we hope voters will continue supporting the moon logo (of PAS), just like how they voted for the moon logo in the state elections last year,” said Nassuruddin.
Nassuruddin also said Mohd Rizwadi was an activist who was active in politics in Gua Musang, adding that the 41-year-old was a former Gua Musang PAS youth deputy chief.
ALSO READ: Nenggiri polls: All parties in unity govt have roles to play in campaigning, says Megat Zulkarnain
“He later joined Bersatu with an idealistic spirit to fight for the future of Nenggiri locals,” added Nassuruddin.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who was also present at the candidate announcement event, said there were 20,219 registered voters in Nenggiri.
“60% of voters in Nenggiri are aged between 18 to 40, consisting mostly of youths,” added Takiyuddin.
Takiyuddin also said Nenggiri, despite being a state seat, was larger than the state of Perlis.
“There are 22 polling districts here and 46 voting channels here,” added Takiyuddin.
ALSO READ: Nenggiri polls: Everyone is welcome to help BN’s candidate, says Ahmad Zahid
Also present during the event was Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Kelantan Perikatan chief Datuk Ahmad Yakob, PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and others.
Nominations are on Aug 3, early voting on Aug 13 and polling on Aug 17.
The Nenggiri by-election was called after Kelantan state assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah declared the seat vacant on June 19, when its elected representative Azizi ceased to be a Bersatu member.
Azizi, along with five other Bersatu MPs and a Selangor state lawmaker had, over the past year, defied their party and declared support for the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Gua Musang MP was terminated from the party for failing to respond to an official letter requiring him to pledge his loyalty to the party by May 31.
Azizi also failed in his bid to stop the upcoming by-election, after the High Court dismissed his interim injunction application on Thursday (June 27).
