Three-cornered fight in Pelangai between BN, PN and ex-Umno member

The Pelangai state seat by-election in Pahang will see a three-cornered fight between Perikatan Nasional, BN and a former Bentong Umno Youth member, who is contesting as independent.

PN is represented by Bentong PAS division deputy chief Kasim Samat, otherwise known as Cikgu Kasim, while Bentong Umno division committee member Amizar Abu Adam represents BN.

Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli, a 36-year-old businessperson, is the third candidate contesting as an independent out of protest against BN leadership's decision to nominate Amizar.

He has since been sacked from Umno this morning, as party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters earlier today that Haslihelmy automatically lost his party membership when he entered the contest against Umno.

All three of the candidates are Pelangai locals.

Speaking to reporters, Haslihelmy (above, right) , who is also the president of NGO Pertubuhan Suara Anak Pahang, said he was upset with Bentong Umno division for choosing Amizar.

According to the candidate, he believed that Bentong Umno division deputy chief Mohamad Zaini Salleh had a better chance to win the polls compared to Amizar - who had lost in Ketari during the recent 15th general election.

"Amizar has already lost in GE15. He was also rejected by Umno division members during the party election.

"He does not have the support of the people here. Why do you still choose him?

"If Umno had gone with Zaini, I would not have entered this contest today," he said.

While admitting that he does not have strong machinery compared to Kasim and Amizar, Haslihelmy claimed that many Pelangai locals had indicated their support for him.

He also vowed to mobilise Pelangai youths to reject PN and BN, and that he would turn his NGO into a political party should he win the by-election.

When asked about his Umno membership, Haslihelmy turned emotional and started sobbing, saying that he still loves the party that he joined in 2008.

‘ I still love Umno’

"I’m doing this because I love Umno. My protest is only against the leadership for their decision.

"They claimed that Zaini had accepted their decision (to choose Amizar), but as a politician, I can see from how Zaini speaks that is not true.

“I had also communicated with Zaini myself," he claimed.

Amizar, meanwhile, told reporters after the nomination process that he vowed to continue BN’s legacy in Pelangai by winning a bigger majority.

Thanking BN leadership for entrusting him, the candidate said he wants to continue all the plans for Pelangai made by its former assemblyperson Johari Harun, who died in a plane crash last month.

‘Will continue late Johari’s works’

"I believe we need to improve (in terms of results) by defending this seat and try increasing our majority.

"I want to continue all the plans made by Allahyarham. He had presented a lot of initiatives for Pelangai, and I vow to continue his legacy by working for the people of Pelangai.

"On top of this, I also plan to add more programmes for Pelangai youths, including providing them with more facilities and opportunities should I win this election," he said.

Meanwhile, Kasim expressed confidence in PN winning the election despite Pelangai being an Umno stronghold.

He told reporters that there is an ongoing wave of support for PN and believed that it would also reach the constituency.

"From what I see, Insha Allah, the youths will swing to support PN. The wind of change will reach Pelangai too.

"Besides, in this constituency, many (of the young voters) are also my students, either in the school or as my silat students.

"My students are really close to me, and for sure their parents too," he said.

When asked about Pelangai being a BN stronghold and it now has the support of Pakatan Harapan, Kasim said the by-election will depend more on the candidates' individual strength rather than other factors.

"Besides, their cooperation is not that strong either," he said.

Top leaders come to support

The nomination process today saw both Amizar and Kasim accompanied by top leaders from their respective coalitions.

Among those seen at the nomination centre in Dewan Orang Ramai Felda Kemasul were Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also BN chairperson, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu (Amanah president), MCA president Wee Ka Siong, Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari (PKR vice-president), and Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman.

On the PN side, top leaders who came include PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, PN election director and Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, and Pahang PN chief Saifuddin Abdullah.

The by-election was called following Johari’s on Aug 17. He was among the 10 victims who died when a private jet crashed into the Guthrie Expressway near Shah Alam, Selangor.

Pelangai is a BN traditional seat, and used to be held by former Pahang menteri besar Adnan Yaakob for eight consecutive terms - from 1986 until 2022.

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