KUBANG PASU: The 27,000-vote majority secured by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate in the Kemaman parliamentary seat during the 15th general election (GE15) last November is poised to face a reduction ahead of the upcoming by-election on Dec 2.
Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) vice-president Adly Zahari said Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate General (R) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor holds an advantage as a local personality and a former Armed Forces chief.
This advantage, coupled with the current internal turmoil in Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), sets the stage for a competitive contest.
"Kemaman is BN's traditional seat. Only in the GE14 did Pas win the constituency for the first time, with about 2,000 majority votes.
"Due to internal rifts in Umno and the presence of Bersatu in PN, which pulled the votes from Umno members, the majority (secured by Pas) was over 20,000 votes.
"However, with the support from Pakatan Harapan, that majority has been reduced now, and at the same time, BN has an advantage because its candidate is a local and a former armed forces general," he told reporters at the Kubang Pasu Amanah delegates annual general meeting in Jitra today.
The Kemaman parliamentary by-election will see a straight fight between Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar of Pas and Affandi.
The parliamentary seat became vacant following the decision of the Terengganu Election Court to annul the victory of Che Alias during the GE15 after the petitioner proved that corruption aimed at influencing voters took place during the general election.
Adly further disclosed that Amanah's election machinery had been mobilised to assist BN in some state constituencies, with a focus on the Chukai state seat.
He also urged the voters in Kemaman to vote for a candidate aligned with the unity government at the federal level led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"If they wish to see Kemaman to be developed, the MP has to be the one who is aligned with the current unity government.
"With the pledge of support by four Bersatu MPs towards the unity government recently, I think the voters are more open to supporting the BN candidate," he said.
