Same PAS face for Kerdau, fresh face for Merlimau

PAS is fielding Hassanudin Salim as the candidate for the Kerdau by-election.

He is the same person who lost the Kerdau contest in the 2008 general election to the late Zaharuddin Abu Kassim from BN.

Hassanudin (middle), 43, is a businessman and holds a diploma in land surveying from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). He is also the state PAS information chief.

He will be facing Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad, 44, who is another local. Syed Ibrahim is also the Kuala Krau division vice-head and serves as a special officer to the Pahang menteri besar.

In the 2008 general election, Zaharuddin won the seat with a comfortable majority of 1,615 votes.

The announcement was made by PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat at the party’s by-elections operation centre in Kerdau late this evening.

The event was attended by more than a thousand people, despite the rain.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders in attendance includes PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, DAP vice-president Dr Tan Seng Giaw, PKR vice-president Fuziah Salleh and PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Isa.

Fresh face for Merlimau

For the Merlimau by-election, PAS will field fresh face Yuhaizad Abdullah. Yuhaizad, 38, is the Malacca PAS Youth deputy chief and is also a businessman.

He has been a party member for 20 years and this will be his first electoral outing. He is also a Merlimau voter.

The announcement was made by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang during a ceramah at the party’s by-elections operation centre in Solihin.

Joining Abdul Hadi on stage is PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution and DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke.

Like Kerdau, PAS is expected to face a hard time breaking through in Merlimau because this seat is considered an Umno stronghold.

Yuhaizat will face BN's Roslan Ahmad, who is the Jasin Umno division committee member.

In the 2008 general election, Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan won the seat with a comfortable majority of 2,154 against PAS’ Jasme Tompang.

Polling for both by-elections is on March 6. Nominations is on Saturday.

Simultaneous polls not a problem

Speaking to reporters later, Abdul Hadi said that Yuhaizad was chosen based on his educational qualification, his status as a local boy and because he was young.

Yuhaizad holds a diploma in Islamic studies and a certificate in mechanical engineering. He was also formerly a construction project manager. 

"Its not impossible for us to win. We have won by-elections before... But the polls must be fair, so must the press," he said.

Abdul Hadi also brushed aside a question on whether PAS would be severely streched since they have to contest two by-elections at the same time.

"We have to face two contests, so do they," added PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, who was also present.

"They are more afraid. If they lose, they fall. But not us. There is still hope," continued Abdul Hadi.

BN candidate's family ties questioned

At the Solihin ceramah, Malacca PAS chief Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman got the campaign ball rolling byattacking BN's choice of candidate. 

Abdul Ghani (on rostrum) pointed out that the candidate is the nephew of former Malacca Chief Minister Abu Zahar Isnin. 

"In Merlimau, do they only have family to choose from? Why not the Wanita chief or the Puteri chief? Don't they have anyone else? Voters have to consider this," said Abdul Ghani.

When Saifuddin took the rostrum, he made fun of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's "advice" to embattled Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi.

It was previously reported that Najib had advised Gaddafi not to use force against demonstrators seeking his ousture and that Malaysian demonstrators were treated "with respect and civility".

Saifuddin also took the opportunity to inform locals about how Pakatan-ruled Kelantan, Penang, Kedah and Selangor had taken the initiative to sponsor air tickets for students in their states who were evacuated during the unrest in Egypt recently.

He adds that BN-controlled states had yet to make similar commitments. 

PM to visit Kerdau

Meanwhile, according to Bernama, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is due to visit three Felda schemes in Kerdau this Sunday.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Ahmad Maslan said the prime minister would launch several projects to benefit the people at Felda Jengka 22, 23 and 25.

"The prime minister will spend the whole day at the three schemes," he told reporters after meeting residents of Felda 23.

Ahmad regarded the visit as especially meaningful because Felda was the brainchild of Najib's father, second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein.

"I hope that all Felda settlers regardless of their political leanings will welcome the prime minister," he said.