SEREMBAN: The state chiefs of MCA and DAP have a fight on their hands with three independents joining the fray in the Seremban parliamentary constituency.
The five-cornered fight involved MCA’s Datuk Seri Dr Yeow Chai Tiam, DAP’s Anthony Loke, incumbent MP John fernandez, retiree Bujang Abu and Abdul Halim Abdullah who will contest under the Berjasa (Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Semalaysia) banner.
Fernandez won the seat under DAP in 20
08. He and Bujang will be contesting as independents.
Both Dr Yeow and Loke submitted their nomination papers at the Wisma Negri building here accompanied by supporters and party members.
The two battled it out for the Rasah parliament seat in the 2008 general election with Loke emerging victorious.
Both Teluk Kemang and Rembau are the other parliament seats seeing three-cornered fights.
Teluk Kemang’s incumbent and PKR state chief Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas will be challenged by Barisan’s Datuk V.S.Mogan and former Makkal Sakthi Party state chief Datuk Seri Kamarudin Kumaravel Abdullah.
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is seeking a second term in Rembau, will be up against PKR’s Radzali A.Ghani and independent Abdul Aziz Hasan.
Rasah will see a “battle of the Teo’s” with Barisan’s Teo Eng Kian and incumbent Bahau assemblyman Teo Kok Seong facing one another.
Barisan’s Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor will, for the third time, be challenged by PAS’ Abdul Razakek Abdul Rahim in Tampin.
Former Umno vice-president Tan Sri Isa Samad will square off with singer Wan Aishah Wan Ariffin, representing PAS, in Jempol while Barisan’s Zainuddin Ismail will contest the Jelebu seat against Aiman Athirah Al-Jundi, who is PAS national Muslimat information chief.
Barisan’s Datuk Hassan Malek is defending the Kuala Pilah seat from state PKR Youth chief Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunos.
As for state constituencies, Barisan and Pakatan Rakyat will see straight fights in 28 of the 36 state seats.
State Barisan chief Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is defending the Rantau seat against state PKR vice-chief Aisah Lamsah.
Nilai, which the DAP won in 2008, and Jeram Padang, a Barisan seat, will see four-cornered fights.
In Nilai, J.Arul Kumar, who is making his debut for the DAP, will be challenged by Barisan’s Gan Chee Biow and independents K.R.Rajasheger, a former DAP member, and businessman Ahmad Kamarulzaman Abu.
L.Manickam, who is making his election debut in Jeram Padang on the Barisan ticket will also fight it out against PKR’s T.Kumar and independents Zailani Zakaria and R.Mazavan.
There will be three-cornered fights in six state seats – Senawang, Bukit Kepayang, Port Dickson, Repah, Lenggeng and Seri Menanti.
All except Lenggeng and Seri Menanti were previously held by the Opposition.
The DAP’s P.Gunasekaren will be challenged by Barisan’s David Choong and independent S.Karthigesan in Senawang.
Cha Kee Chin, also from the DAP, will be challenged by former party member S.Vijayan, who is contesting as an independent, and Barisan’s Wong Oi Foon in Bukit Kepayang.
In Port Dickson, PKR’s M.Ravi will be challenged by Barisan’s Dr P.Tanalethcumi and independent Daniel Simon, while Repah’s DAP incumbent S.Veerapan will again face Barisan’s Yap Seong Fook and independent Fadzil A.Bakar.
In Lenggeng, Seremban UMNO chief Datuk Isha Ismail will be challenged by former state PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar and independent candidate Zulkifli Abdullah.
In Seri Menanti, Barisan’s incumbent Datuk Samad Ibrahim will be challenged by PKR’s Tengku Zamrah Tengku Sulaiman as well as independent Md Ali Mustafa.
THE STAR ONLINE
