BN to face two independents in three-cornered fight for Chini
CHINI POLLS | The Chini by-election will see a three-cornered contest involving BN's Mohd Sharim Md Zain, 41, against two independents.
Returning officer Zaliza Zulkipli announced Sharim's candidacy alongside that of former Pekan Bersatu deputy chief Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin and blogger Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli at the end of nominations this morning.
CHINI POLLS | The Chini by-election will see a three-cornered contest involving BN's Mohd Sharim Md Zain, 41, against two independents.
Returning officer Zaliza Zulkipli announced Sharim's candidacy alongside that of former Pekan Bersatu deputy chief Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin and blogger Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli at the end of nominations this morning.
"With this, I announce that no nomination papers have been rejected," said Zaliza, witnessed by Election Commission (EC) chief Azhar Azizan Harun and EC deputy chief Azmi Sharom. The nomination process, which started at 9am, was streamed live by the EC.
Sharim was seen on stage clad in BN blue baju Melayu while Tengku Zainul, whose Bersatu membership has been nullified for contesting as an independent, was seen wearing a baju Melayu in the party's shade of red.
Tengku Zainul, who is using the house symbol, was the first person to submit his nomination form at 9am.
Sharim, a second-generation Felda Chini settler who is also Kuantan Territory Felda Youth Council chair became the second person to submit a nomination form at 9.01am.
Notably, Sharim's nomination was supported by Pekan PAS deputy chief Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim, who was also the PAS candidate who lost the seat to BN's Abu Bakar Harun in GE14.
Shukri, who is also a blogger, is using the key symbol and submitted his nomination form at 9.04am.
Following the nominations, Bersatu disciplinary board chairperson Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas confirmed that Tengku Zainul had been dismissed from the party with immediate effect.
Section 10.2.4 of Bersatu's constitution states that members lose their membership automatically if they contest (an election) as a candidate who is not from the party or as an independent candidate.
The EC has also set June 30 as the date for early voting, while polling is on July 4.
Chini is one of four state seats under the Pekan parliamentary constituency, which is held by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
The by-election was called following the death of BN incumbent Abu Bakar Harun (photo) on May 6.
The district is a green zone as far as Covid-19 is concerned, but there are some significant changes in the SOP for the campaign.
The EC has decided to allow indoor ceramah (talks), house-to-house visits and walkabouts, subject to prescribed SOP, during the campaign period which ends at midnight on July 3.
However, in this by-election, many new rules (SOPs) have to be followed, among them practising social distancing, no "salam" (handshakes) or hugging.
Face masks need to worn, hands should be washed or sanitised frequently, attendance records and temperature checks need to be taken (for ceramah) during the campaign period.
This 11th by-election since the 14th General Election (GE14) held in May 2018, is the first one since the Perikatan Nasional government was formed in March.
In the 14th general election, Abu Bakar, a three-term incumbent, retained the Chini seat with a 4,622-vote majority, beating PAS candidate Mohd Fadhil who received 5,405 votes, and Mohamad Razali Ithnain from PKR, who obtained only 1,065 votes.
For this election, PAS is supporting Umno/BN while Pakatan Harapan has chosen not to field a candidate.
Chini has 20,900 registered voters, comprising 20,972 regular voters and 18 early voters. Those aged 40 and below make up 56 percent of the voters.
