ROMPIN, April 22 – The nomination process for the Rompin Parliamentary by-election, which was held in the Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah here, closed at 10 am after it was opened since 9 am.
Two candidates, namely Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Hasan Arifin and PAS candidate Nazri Ahmaf submitted their respective nomination papers.
Meanwhile an independent candidate, blog writer Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli who announced that he would contest last Monday was not allowed to enter the nomination centre because he did not bring along his financial statement and a proposer and a supporter with him.
Earlier Hasan, who is acting Rompin UMNO division chief, was accompanied by BN deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, had marched from Puteri Inn, about 30 metres from the nominatuon centre at 8.50 am.
Also accompanying Hasan was UMNO vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is also BN coordinator for Rompin by-election, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam, Gerakan vice president Datuk A Kohilan Pillay as well as 5,000 BN members and supporters.
Meanwhile Nazri was accompanied by PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, marched from the Petronas petrol station about 200 metres from the nomination centre at 8.45 am.
Also present were PAS secretary general Datuk Mustafa Ali, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob, PKR vice presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tian Chua as well as 1,000 supporters.
Hasan submitted his nomination papers at 9.07 am while Nazri submitted his at 9.04 am.
Rompin by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent Tan Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis in a helicopter crash in Semenyih, Selangor last April 4.
In the 13th general election Jamaluddin retained the seat, which he held for nearly six terms after defeating former PAS Muslimat chief Nuridah Mohd Salleh with a 15,114 majority-vote.
Rompin parliamentary by-election is the ninth by-election after the 13th general election was held in May 5, 2013.
Rompin constituency has 53,294 registered voters comprising 52,744 ordinary voters, 545 early voters and five absentee voters as they are overseas.
Early voting will be held on April 30 and polling day on May 5.
– BERNAMA
