Local Umno Youth chief is BN's candidate

Thirty-nine-year-old Kuala Krai Umno Youth chief Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat has been named as the Barisan Nasional's candidate for the Manek Urai state seat by-election on July 14.

The announcement was made by Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin in the rural constitutency in Kelantan today.

Tuan Aziz is also the manager of state economic agency Kelantan Selatan Development Authority (Kesedar).

In making the announcement, Muhyiddin said it had been difficult in selecting the candidate because there were many eligible people.

"Nevertheless, we considered the matter in detail. We are fielding a candidate who is well accepted by the constituents," he added.

The selection of Tuan Aziz by Umno did not come as a major surprise as he was largely seen as frontrunner to contest for the PAS-held seat.

However he seemed to be a reluctant candidate based on his remarks to Malaysiakini on June 24 when he had said that if possible, he would not want to be a candidate.

He had said that there were many other able senior party leaders who could contest.

Tuan Aziz's reluctance is perhaps understandable as PAS holds a strong grip in this seat.

PAS to field a fishmonger

Incumbent Ismail Yaakob, whose untimely death necessitated this by-election, was a five-term elected representative.

The only time his hold in the seat has been broken was in 2004 when Umno's Zulkepli Omar won with a 53-seat majority.

However Ismail regained the seat in 2008 with a 1,352-seat majority.

Tuan Aziz will be facing PAS' Kuala Krai division treasurer Mohd Fauzi Abdullah in the by-election.

Fauzi, 50, is a turban-clad wealthy fish wholesaler and businessman. He was born and bred in Kuala Krai, the nearest town in the largely rural Malay-majority Manek Urai constituency.

He is also member of the Kuala Krai municipal council since 1999.

Nomination for the by-election is on July 6 with polling to take place on July 14.

At least one independent candidate is expected to enter the race.