Old face for Kerdau, newcomer in Merlimau

TEMERLOH: PAS has picked its state information chief, Hassanudin Salim, as its candidate in the Kerdau by-election.

Hassanudin is the same candidate who contested and lost the Kerdau seat in the 2008 general election to the late Zaharuddin Abu Kassim from Barisan Nasional (BN).

PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat made the announcement here tonight. More than 1,000 people turned up for the event.

Also present were Pakatan Rakyat leaders including PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, DAP vice-president Dr Tan Seng Giaw, PKR vice-president Fuziah Salleh and PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Isa.

Hassanudin, a businessman, will be facing BN’s Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad, 44, who is a special religious officer. The latter is also the Kuala Krau division vice-head.

In the Merlimau by-election, PAS has fielded newcomer Yuhaizad Abdullah. Yuhaizad, 38, is the Malacca PAS Youth deputy chief.

Yuhaizad, who is Jasin PAS division chief, will be taking on BN’s Roslan Ahmad who heads Perbadanan Melaka Holdings, a state corporation.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang announced the candidate during a ceramah at the party’s by-elections operation centre in Solihin, Jasin.

Also in attendance were PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution and DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke.

Nomination for both state seats is on Saturday and polling on March 6