Anwar, Zahid accompany candidates to nomination centre

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim (fourth from right) shares the stage with PH leaders before accompanying PKR’s candidate, Dr Streram Sinnasamy (in dark grey coat) to the nomination centre.

SEREMBAN: Nomination for the Rantau by-election here opened at 9am, with at least three candidates so far throwing their hats in the ring.

Independent candidate Malar Rajaram was the first to arrive at the nomination centre at SJK (C) Bandar Sri Sendayan at about 8.30am. She came alone.

 

The 51-year-old housewife was coy about her reasons for contesting, saying she would only reveal them after her nomination papers had been accepted. 

 

She also said she has her own manifesto.

 

Malar is from Kampung Ganapathy, Port Dickson. She is not affiliated to any party.

 

PKR’s Dr Streram Sinnasamy, the Pakatan Harapan candidate, arrived at 8.50am, just before nominations began, accompanied by party president Anwar Ibrahim and several PH ministers and leaders. 

 

Other PH leaders present included PKR’s Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, DAP’s M Kulasegaran, Amanah’s Mujahid Yusof Rawa and PPBM’s Muhyiddin Yassin.

 

About 300 PH supporters were on hand to support their candidate.

 

Barisan Nasional candidate and Rantau incumbent Mohamad Hasan arrived at 9.05am. He was accompanied by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. 

 

Also present were MCA president Wee Ka Siong, MIC deputy president M Saravanan, Dewan Rakyat opposition leader and Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob and PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.

 

They were greeted by some 1,000 BN supporters.  

 

The Election Commission yesterday said eight sets of nomination papers had been bought for Rantau.

 

The by-election has been called following the Federal Court’s dismissal of an appeal filed by Mohamad to set aside an Election Court decision declaring his unopposed victory in the last general election null and void.

 

Mohamad had been declared the winner of the seat after Streram, the PH candidate, was prohibited from entering the nomination centre as he did not have a pass from the Election Commission.

 

Campaigning will last for 14 days beginning today. Polling will take place on April 13 and early voting on April 9. - FMT