PAS fields Normala Sudirman for Tenang

Thirty eight-year-old teacher Normala Sudirman will contest as PAS candidate in the Tenang by-election on Jan 30.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (left) announced Normala's candidacy tonight at a Pakatan Rakyat rally in Labis, the main town in the Tenang constituency of Johor.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP supremo leader Lim Kit Siang and other Pakatan leaders were also present at the rally to lend Normala their support.

Normala, who heads the PAS Labis Muslimat (women's wing), has never contested in an election before.

The mother of three, called 'Cikgu Mala' by those who know her, is from Muar, Johor, and is married to a fellow teacher in Tenang.

She graduated from the Tuanku Bainun teacher training college in Penang and was a remedial teacher at the Sekolah Kebangsaan LKTP Kemelah, Segamat, prior to her resignation.

Normala (left) had resigned her job recently to be a full-time political activist. The election law forbids civil servants from running for election.

In her maiden speech and press conference later, Normal stressed that her candidacy is an important recognition from the Islamic party towards the leadership of its young women.

"I believe and am optimist that my selection as Tenang candidate signifies the recognition from PAS and Pakatan Rakyat towards young women's leadership, which will take over the national political landscape in the future," she said in her first press conference, flanked by Pakatan women leaders.

"God-willing, I will uphold the welfare and voices of the people, and bring the problems from the grassroot, especially the voters of Tenang, into the state assembly."

She also said that this by-election is crucial for Johor PAS and Pakatan as it is the first by-election in Johor after two decades and an indicator for the next general election.

Normala only appeared on the stage when Hadi announced her candidacy. She walked through the crowd amid nasyid and shouting of "Allahu akhbar".

A short video introducing her background containing her interview was showed immediately.

Although under continual flashlights, Normala appeared confident and gracefully smiled. She delivered her maiden speech with a confident yet emotional voice.

Her husband Makrof Abd Mutalib and parents were also there to lend support.

Forced to relocate venue

The announcement ceremony was held at a double storey shoplot that PAS is using as their operations centre.

About 1,000 Pakatan supporters, mostly from PAS clad in white kopiah, gathered on the roadside in front of the shop.

PAS was forced to relocate to the shop when the original location for the event, an empty plot of land across from the operations centre, was scuttled.

This happened when the landowner was threatened and the permit eventually denied by the local council, Johor PAS information chief Mazlan Aliman told Malaysiakini.

Mazlan also confirmed reports that Normala’s husband Makrof (left) has received instructions to transfer to Johor Baru on a short notice.

"Initially the notice was sent to him, but it was retracted later," said Mazlan, adding that the notice was sent by the Education Department.

Makrof has also confirmed the transfer notice. When asked about the reasons for the sudden transfer, Mazlan mused, "political reasons".

According to PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin in a tweet, Makrof was asked to relocate within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim who was scheduled to attend the announcement had to cancel at the last minute.

According to Wan Azizah (left), he stayed back in Kuala Lumpur to discuss his sodomy hearing tomorrow with his legal team.

"Sorry because I cannot be present at the 8pm Indian dinner and the candidate announcement. I have some pressing affairs to attend to," said Anwar on his Twitter.

Women to dominate contest?

The rare choice of a female candidate is seen as a PAS move to gain the support of the Chinese voters who make up almost 40 percent of the rural Johor constituency.

Her selection will hopefully counter the perception amongst the non-Muslims that the Islamic party discriminates against women, a perception often used by the MCA in their campaign.

The 5,635 Chinese voters in Tenang are seen as the key to reducing the BN majority, if not topple its candidate.

Malay voters, the majority of whom reside in Felda settlements and Malay villages, are traditionally Umno supporters.

Although slightly more than half of the Chinese voters had supported PAS in the last general election, it is believed that there is still room to shore up their Chinese support.

It is also possible that Umno will follow PAS’ example, as the party's women’s wing has been lobbying the central leadership to field Umno Labis Wanita chief Haslinda Salleh.

Deputy Prime Minister and BN deputy chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin will announce the BN candidate this Wednesday.

Nomination day falls on Jan 22 while polling will take place on Jan 30.