6-cornered fight in Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election

The Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election candidates, (from left) independant Ang Uan Lock. PH’s Karmanie Sardini, Berjasa’s Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz, BN’s Wee Jeck Seng, Gerakan’s Wendy Subramaniam and independent Faridah Aryani Abdul Ghaffar

(FMT) – It will be a six-cornered fight for the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat on Nov 16.

Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Karmanie Sardini will face candidates from Barisan Nasional, Gerakan and Berjasa and two independents in its bid to retain the seat.

The other candidates at the close of nominations this morning were Wee Jeck Seng (BN), Wendy Subramaniam (Gerakan), Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz (Berjasa) and independents
Faridah Aryani Abdul Ghaffar and Ang Uan Lock.

Their names were announced by returning officer Zulkifly Mohd Tahir, the district officer of Pontian, when nominations closed at 10.30am at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim here.

Karmanie, 66, a businessman with an advanced diploma in architecture from UiTM, is the Tanjung Piai PPBM division chief. He contested for the Pontian parliamentary seat in the last general election but lost to BN’s Ahmad Maslan by 833 votes.

Wee, 55, the Tanjung Piai MCA division chief, was the MP for the constituency for two terms from 2008 to 2018. He lost the seat to PPBM’s Dr Md Farid Md Rafik in GE14. He is a former deputy minister.

Wendy, 38, is Gerakan’s deputy secretary-general. She is a lawyer.

Karmanie was accompanied to the nomination centre by PH leaders, including PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Johor PH chairman Jasni Mohammad. They were greeted by numerous PH supporters.

Wee was accompanied by BN leaders, including BN chairman and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamid, MCA president Wee Ka Siong and MIC president SA Vigneswaran. Also present was former prime minister Najib Razak.

Wendy was accompanied by former Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong and other party leaders.

The Tanjung Piai seat fell vacant after Farid, a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, died on Sept 21 from heart complications.

Farid won the seat in GE14 after defeating Wee by a 524-vote margin. The other contestant was Nordin Othman from PAS.

Early voting will be held on Nov 12.

Tanjung Piai is a mixed seat with 53,528 registered voters, comprising 57% Malays, 41.66% Chinese and 1% Indians.

This is the ninth by-election held after PH took over the federal government.