KLUANG — The Mahkota by-election will see a straight fight between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional on September 28.
Kluang Umno Youth chief Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, 40, and Bersatu’s Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, 61, were confirmed as the only two candidates at the closing of nominations here today.
Their candidacies were announced by by-election returning officer Azurawati Wahid at Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, where the nomination process ended at 10am, Bernama reports.
While Haizan is two decades older than Syed Hussien, PN is banking on his record as a former Johor footballer to attract younger voters in the state seat.
Haizan played for Johor in the 1980s and represented the state in Razak Cup and the President Cup during that era.
He is currently Kluang Bersatu committee member.
The by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, who passed away on Aug 2 while receiving treatment at the Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital.
In the 2022 state election, Sharifah Azizah, who was also former Johor Umno Wanita Chief, won by a majority of 5,166 votes, defeating the Pakatan Harapan, PN and Warisan candidates.
The Mahkota state seat has 66,318 registered voters, comprised of 61,397 regular voters, 4,510 military personnel and their spouses, 401 police officers, and 10 absentee voters living abroad.
BN has won the seat in the last five elections. — September 14, 2024