GUA MUSANG: The intense campaign for the Nenggiri state by-election in Kelantan will end at 11.59pm Friday (Aug 16) with voters deciding on their new representative the following day.
For two weeks, this constituency received the full attention of Barisan Nasional which is representing the unity government, and PAS – which heads the state government – representing Perikatan Nasional.
Party machinery and candidates have been busy listening to and addressing the problems of the residents in a series of ceramah and on social media, especially related to land issues, infrastructure problems, employment opportunities and the people's welfare.
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The campaign has seen one long-standing problem solved: the installation of an automated teller machine (ATM) for the use of more than 20,000 residents there.
The by-election on Saturday (Aug 17) sees a straight fight between Barisan candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani and PAS candidate Mohd Rizwadi Ismail.
Observers noted that the campaign was conducted in relative harmony, apart from a police report being made at the Gua Musang district police headquarters over PAS referring to unity government component DAP as "kafir harbi" in a speech.
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During campaigning, Barisan employed a door-to-door strategy in the 20 voting district centres to address what it described as misperceptions stirred up by its opponent.
PAS, meanwhile, touched on national and local issues and also raised the question of whether Barisan needed DAP votes to win, even though the latter was not present during campaigning.
The presence of Barisan "generals" such as Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Gua Musang division chief Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah also boosted the campaign in the second week through house-to-house campaigning and group talks in several areas.
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PAS also brought in top leaders such as Bersatu president and Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud.
PAS listed 46 offers to the people in its manifesto, while Barisan did not release one but said its candidate would continue serving the constituents with sincerity.
Tengku Razaleigh, the by-election director for Barisan, said there was no need to advertise promises that cannot be fulfilled as it would disappoint voters.
The by-election was called following the seat being declared vacant on June 19 after previous assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim lost his Bersatu membership six days earlier.
This is the ninth by-election since GE15. – Bernama
TAGS: Nenggiri, by-election, Kelantan, election, EC, Ku Li
