PN announces ex-PAS deputy youth chief as Nenggiri candidate

Perikatan Nasional has announced former Gua Musang PAS deputy youth chief Mohd Rizwadi Ismail as the coalition’s candidate in the upcoming Nenggiri by-election.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Mohd Nassuruddin Daud revealed Rizwadi’s candidacy during a function attended by top PAS and Bersatu leaders, with a notable absence of representatives from Gerakan.

“Our candidate is a young candidate. Not that we don’t appreciate the elders, because I’m old myself, but there are more youth voters,” said Nassuruddin.

Rizwadi (above) is a 41-year-old retired navy officer who has joined Bersatu but will contest the seat under the PAS logo, Nassuruddin added.

“The PN candidate is a political activist in Gua Musang.

"He joined Bersatu with an idealism to fight for the future of the Nenggiri people,” the MB said in his speech.

Also present were Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin, PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.

Where is Gerakan?

Throughout Nassuruddin’s speech and Faizal’s earlier opening remarks, both leaders were silent on Gerakan’s involvement in the by-election campaign.

They instead made references to strong ties between PAS and Bersatu and how it would work to defend the Nenggiri seat.

Nassuruddin also quipped that he would like to eventually see Umno together with PAS and Bersatu, but Umno has instead chosen to be friends with DAP.

Earlier today, PN election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor became the latest PAS leader to make it clear that no tears would be shed if Gerakan chose to leave the coalition, following disagreements over the role of alcoholic beverage companies in facilitating fundraising events for Chinese vernacular schools.

On July 18, BN announced that the coalition will be fielding Kelantan Umno Youth chief Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, 38, as the coalition government’s candidate.

The Nenggiri by-election is being held after Kelantan state assembly speaker Mohd Amar Abdullah announced a vacancy on June 13, following Bersatu’s move to drop its incumbent Mohd Azizi Abu Naim.

Nomination day and early voting have been set for Aug 3 and 13 respectively, while voters will go to the polls on Aug 17.

Azizi won the state seat with a majority of 810 votes against BN’s Ab Aziz Yusoff in the state election last year.

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