ARAU – Although Perlis is smaller than the neighbouring Kubang Pasu district in Kedah, it is seeing quite the political spectacle as nominations wrapped up today.
For the first time in 27 years, its longest-serving menteri besar and Umno warlord Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim is not contesting under Barisan Nasional’s (BN) banner.
He is now running on BN rival Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) ticket to defend his Arau parliamentary seat after Umno dropped him as a candidate.
He is up against former Umno Youth committee member Datuk Rozabil Abdul Rahman, who was born in Penang but came to Perlis to pursue a political career.
Incidentally, Rozabil – affectionately known as Ben – is the younger brother of Rozaid Abdul Rahman, who is the editor-in-chief of Malay daily Sinar Harian.
Interestingly, Shahidan’s younger brother, Datuk Ismail Kassim, will be defending his Tambun Tulang state seat under the BN banner. Tambun Tulang is one of the five state seats in Arau.
It remains to be seen if the brothers will be locking horns during the 14-day campaign season.
Shahidan, who is known as a political maverick, has refused to step aside despite pressure from his family, peers and Umno colleagues. Notably, he is among the most senior Umno Supreme Council members.
The 71-year-old is also the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union president.
Meanwhile, neighbouring parliamentary constituency Padang Besar in Perlis will see an interesting contest, with its incumbent Datuk Seri Zahidi Zainul Abidin running as an independent candidate.
Zahidi, who is an Umno Supreme Council member, was dropped from the BN candidate list.
This morning, he was accompanied by family members to the nomination centre.
He will also run for the Titi Tinggi state seat.
“I will contest both seats as an independent candidate,” he said while walking to the nomination centre with his entourage.
The nominations for the 15 state and three parliamentary seats in Perlis went smoothly except for some minor infractions by supporters.
The smallest Malaysian state will witness multi-cornered fights in many seats as BN, Pakatan Harapan, Pejuang and Warisan fielded their candidates across Perlis. – The Vibes, November 5, 2022
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