Nenggiri polls: Straight fight between Barisan and Perikatan

GUA MUSANG: It is a straight fight between Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani and Mohd Rizwadi Ismail of Perikatan Nasional for the Nenggiri by-election.

This was declared by the Election Commission (EC) following the close of the nomination centre at 10am on Saturday (Aug 3).

This by-election is being held as the seat was declared vacant by Kelantan state assembly speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah on June 19, following Mohd Azizi Abu Naim’s expulsion from Bersatu on June 13.

In the 15th Kelantan State Election last year, Mohd Azizi contested under a PAS ticket and defeated Barisan Nasional candidate Ab Aziz Yusoff by a majority of 810 votes.

The EC has set the polling day on Aug 17. Early voting, scheduled for Aug 13, will not be held as all 14 involved opted for postal voting.

The electoral roll for Nenggiri state constituency has 20,259 electors comprising 20,245 ordinary voters and 14 police personnel.

The state seat has been contested five times since 2004, with four won by BN and the most recent by Mohd Azizi.

This is the ninth by-election following the 15th General Election, with previous ones held for Kuala Terengganu (Parliamentary constituency) in Terengganu; Simpang Jeram (State constituency) and Pulai (Parliament) in Johor; Pelangai (State) in Pahang; Jepak (State) in Sarawak; Kemaman (Parliament) in Terengganu; Kuala Kubu Baharu (State) in Selangor; and Sg Bakap (State) in Penang.