Multi-corner fights for almost half the seats in Penang
Opalyn Mok, TMI
A total 16 state seats and five parliamentary seats in the state will see three to six corner fights between Barisan Nasional (BN), Pakatan Rakyat (PR) components, Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM), Malaysian People’s Welfare Party (KITA) and independent candidates this May 5.
For the first time in history, the state saw the most number of independent candidates with a total 20 of them contesting for parliament and state seats here.
The state seat with the most number of candidates is the Machang Bubuk seat, within the Bukit Mertajam parliamentary constituency, which will see a six corner fight between BN, PKR, KITA and three independent candidates.
The candidates are Lee Khai Loon (PKR), Tan Lok Heah (BN), M. Vikneswaran (KITA), Wan Balkis Wan Abdullah (independent), former PKR incumbent Tan Hock Leong (independent) and former BN coordinator Ooi Suan Hoe (independent).
Former agriculture and rural development deputy minister and Umno veteran Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar carried through with his intention to contest as a PR-friendly independent at Tasek Gelugor parliament seat to go up against BN’s Shabudin Yahaya and Datuk Abdul Rahman Maidin (PAS).
Mohd Shariff, who had been sacked from Umno for contesting as an independent, is also contesting for the Sungai Dua state seat against Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (BN) and Zahadi Ahmad (PAS).
Over in Batu Uban, three independent candidates turned it into a five-corner fight for the suburban constituency in Bayan Baru.
Goh Kheng Sneah (BN), T. Jayabalan (PKR), Mohd Noor Sirajajudeen Mohd Abdul Kader (independent), A. Rajendra (independent) and N. Baratharajan (independent) will be fighting for votes out of the more than 28,000 registered voters here.
