Political rivals stay on friendly terms in Sg Besar

SUNGAI BESAR: Rival political leaders and supporters remained on friendly and cordial terms this morning while showing support for their candidates in the parliamentary by-election being here this month.

After their candidates had filed their nomination papers, members of PAS, Umno and PKR members were seen exchanging friendly words with each other, except for Amanah.

A three-way contest is being held between Budiman Mohd Zohdi of Barisan Nasional, Abdul Rani Osman (PAS) and Azhar Abdul Shukur (Parti Amanah Negara).

They had marched separately to the nomination centre at Dewan Seri Bernam, with about 400 supporters for the Amanah candidate, and about 1,000 supporters each from PAS and Barisan Nasional.

PAS and Barisan politicians, traditionally rivals, were friendly towards each other, with laughter heard among leaders as they converse.

PAS leaders Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Mustafa Ali were seen rubbing shoulders with Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, BN’s Sungai Besar director of elections, Noh Omar, and Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had a chat with leaders of both PAS and Umno, with Azmin congratulating Noh for being made a Tan Sri in yesterday’s royal birthday honours list.

However, there were no exchange of words between leaders of PAS and Amanah. “So far, there is no one from Amanah who has met me,” Tuan Ibrahim said.

Amanah was formed last year after leaders of a progressive faction in PAS were ousted by ulama-backed conservative candidates in the party elections.

The by-election in Sungai Besar is being held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the MP, Noriah Kasnon, in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau while campaigning in the Sarawak state elections. She had been elected in 2013 by a majority of 399 votes over PAS candidate Mohamed Salleh M Husin.

There are 42.836 registered voters, 67.18% Malay and 30.68% Chinese with 2% from the Indian and communities.

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