KUALA KUBU BAHARU – The fight for the state seat is on as candidates and their supporters dressed in party colours march to the Hulu Selangor Multipurpose Hall and Sports Complex to submit their nomination papers.
While it is shaping up to be a David versus Goliath clash with Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Pang Sock Tao, 31, and Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Khairul Azhari Saut, 54, the nomination remains open to others. Pang represents DAP, while Khairul is from Bersatu, within their respective coalitions.
Muda and Parti Sosialis Malaysia have chosen to sit it out this time. However, not all is well with MCA and MIC not supporting Pang’s campaign, who is being promoted as a unity government candidate.
Join Scoop as our team brings you the latest happenings that are unfolding today. – April 27, 2024
10.38am: Four candidates have been confirmed for the by-election:
1 . Khairul Azhari Saut, PN
2 . Pang Sock Tao, PH
3 . Nyau Ke Xin (Independent)
4 . Hafizah Zainudin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia)
10.00am: Returning officer Yuhanas Auree Kamaruddin has announced that the nomination filling period has closed. Election Commission officers will now scrutinise the papers submitted before vetting the candidacies.
PH meanwhile, has informed the media its candidate Pang was proposed by a Srikanth Santrakandm and seconded by one Amin Hussin.
9.33am: Another possible candidate has arrived to file his nomination papers. Former DAP member Chng Boon Lai, who contested the seat in the 2023 state polls under Parti Rakyat Malaysia and won only 527 votes in a four-cornered fight. This action resulted in his sacking from DAP. According to him, he is a Kuala Kubu Baharu local.
9.12am: Independent candidate hopeful, Nyau Ke Xie, also known as Eris, has arrived at the nomination centre to file her papers. If she is accepted as a candidate, the by-election will not just be a straight fight between the unity government and PN.
8.48am: Unity government candidate Pang has arrived at the nomination centre and is waiting to file her candidacy papers. The nomination process will begin at 9am and last for an hour. With her are BN president Zahid and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin, who is also state PH chairman.
8.34am: On the unity government’s side, about 500 PH and BN supporters have begun their march to the nomination centre, led by their candidate Pang and other party leaders. They are shouting “Lawan lawan”, “Kita Selangor”, and “Kekal Kuala Kubu” as they march.
8.27am: At the PN camp, more than 100 supporters have gathered at the Dewan Merdeka with banners and posters slamming the unity government. These include criticism of the recent water tariff hikes and caricatures of Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari accusing him of being an uncaring leader.
There are also banners that say “Reformati” – a play on PH’s “Reformasi” slogan. Two men are also parading a ubi kayu (tapioca roots) in a jibe at a PH leader who recently said it could help with rice shortages.
8.03am: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrived at the MIC Hulu Selangor’s headquarters nearby to join in the march to the nomination centre later.
Also present are other BN-Umno leaders such as Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, and Datuk Lokman Noor Adam.
7.45am: DAP leaders have arrived ahead of the nomination, including party secretary-general Anthony Loke, and national chairman Lim Guan Eng.
Meanwhile, The PN camp has gathered at a tent outside Dewan Merdeka. PN candidate Khairul Azhari Saut has arrived and will be accompanied by supporters to march to the nomination centre when it opens at 9am.
Traffic outside the multipurpose hall is also building up.
7.30am: About 100 PH supporters have gathered at Agrobank Kuala Kubu Baharu for a scheduled march this morning.
Also in attendance are Selangor executive councillor and Bandar Utama assemblyman Jamaliah Jamaluddin, and Rawang assemblyman Chua Wei Kiat.