Kuala Terengganu will awake to a bustling PESTA after the nomination of the respective candidates by the respective political parties tomorrow (6 January) vying to win the parliamentary by-election on 17 January as a result of the sudden death of its elected representative Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail on 28 November last year.
Kuala Terengganu parliamentary is divided into the following state constituency, namely N13 (Wakaf Mempelam), N15 (Ladang), N16 (Batu Buruk) and N14 (Bandar) which only Bandar is held by the Barisan Nasional through MCA while the remaining through the Opposition by PAS.
It has been announced that the Barisan Nasional will field former Senator and Deputy Home Minister (resigned effective last Friday) Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh from UMNO while Pakatan Rakyat will field PAS candidate, five consecutive term State Assemblyman for Wakaf Mempelam, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut who are both local boys and well-known by the voters and residents.
It is anticipated that its going to be a tough fight between these two groups with so much of mud-slinging expected.
Meanwhile, it is anticipated that two independents, Isma Airfath Hassanuddin and Harun alias Abdul Rahman Mohamad from a small party Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia, have indicated their interest to contest.
The latest outburst by former premier, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid is a bad choice would create an edge for the Opposition to triumph the election. This election will dictate the course of UMNO's struggle, whether it is Datuk Seri Abdullah or Datuk Seri Najib, who will be in control.
But whatever the outcome, Kuala Terengganu residents can expect 'goodies' and great promises offered to them to win their hearts by the ruling BN government. A sudden influx of outsiders will be present making it seem extremely busy while making the business community busy for the next 2 weeks to follow.
The ultimate decision will be decided by the Kuala Terengganu voters - to keep with these 'uncaring, arrogant, ineffective, inefficient and corrupted' Barisan Nasional or to vote for a wind of change by electing a PAS candidate.
Beginning tomorrow, campaigning is expected to pick up steam and become more intense as campaign workers and supporters fan out to win the hearts and minds of the 80,229 registered voters before they cast their ballots on 17 January with the Election Commission preparing 36 polling centres and 143 polling streams for this by-election.
photo courtesy of Malaysiakini
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