Big fights shaping up

KUALA LUMPUR - Ahead of the Election Commission's announcement tomorrow of the dates for nomination and polling, some big battles for the 13th general election are already shaping up.

Among the big fights on the cards are:-

>Putrajaya – where PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa is to take on incumbent Umno and Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor;

>Segamat – where PKR vice-president Datuk Chua Jui Meng is to take on MIC deputy president and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam; and

>Bentong – where MCA deputy president and Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai will face Himpunan Hijau anti-Lynas chairman Wong Tack who will be standing on a DAP ticket.

Husam's candidacy was announced by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who will be defending his Marang seat.

Abdul Hadi also announced the candidacy of four other top PAS leaders – deputy president Mohamad Sabu (Pendang, Kedah), PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena, Kedah) and PAS vice-president Datuk Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai, Johor).

Speaking to reporters at PAS headquarters later, Husam said he faced an uphill battle as voters in Putrajaya, who comprise mostly civil servants, do not have the same problems as those in the rural areas, where he previously contested and won.

"This constituency (Putrajaya) is a very difficult seat to win as Tengku Adnan is a formidable figure and a good strategist," Husam said.

Husam, the former Salor assemblyman, however, declined to confirm whether he will contest a state seat in Kelantan, and maintain his position as a state exco member.

He said his constituents (in Kelantan) were not happy about him leaving but it was the party's choice that he contest in the national administrative centre.

"Putrajaya is the centre of transformation and a transformation of Putrajaya will form the foundation for a changed Malaysia," he said.

Meanwhile, Subramaniam welcomed "my good friend Chua" (Jui Meng) for a healthy fight in Segamat.

Chua's candidacy was announced by de facto PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a talk in Tangkak, Johor on Monday.

Speaking in Putrajaya today, Subramaniam said Chua was one of those who had strongly campaigned for him from house-to-house in the 2004 general election.

"Personally, he (Chua) is a good friend of mine. When I first contested in Segamat, he strongly campaigned for me. Now he is going to campaign against me. So, let the people decide," he said.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm looking forward to a very good and healthy fight and I think we (the BN) stand a good chance of winning the seat," he told reporters.

Subramaniam had defeated DAP's Pang Hok Liong in both the 2004 and 2008 elections.

Chua, a former MP for Bakri, quit MCA and joined PKR in 2009 after he lost his bid against Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for the MCA presidency.

Anti-Lynas activist Wong Tack had earlier announced his candidacy for Bentong which Liow has held for three terms since 1999.

-thesundaily