BALINGIAN: BN, PKR in straight fight

Yussibnosh Balo (left) and Abdul Jalil Bujang after nomination closes this morning

MUKAH: Balingian by-election will witness a straight-flight between Barisan Nasional and Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

BN's candidate Yussibnosh Balo (PBB) arrived at the Dewan Suarah Mesra here at 8:50 and submitted his nomination paper at 9:03am today. 

 

He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem. 

 

Also present were the UMNO vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and other component parties' leaders. 

 

Meanwhile, PKR candidate Abdul Jalil Bujang accompanied by its deputy president Azmin Ali and PAS central committee member Datuk Dr Hatta Ramli arrived at 9am and submitted the nomination paper at 9:14. 

 

Returning officer Shafrie Saili said the candidates have 12 days of campaign period before the polling day on March 29. 

 

More than five hundreds supporters from BN and PKR were seen gathered outside the centre with their party's banners and flags, cheering their respective candidate.

 

Meanwhile, Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the nomination process in Balingian went on smoothly which worth to be good example to other by-election in the future. 

 

Although both parties have their own supporters outside the centre, they seem to be respecting each others and following the rules and regulations.

 

“I am very happy with the situation and I would said it is one of the best nomination process ever where everyone cooperates with us,” said Aziz during a press conference held after the nomination. 

 

He said the campaign period began after the nomination yesterday and ends at 12 midnight on March 28.

 

He said three election campaign enforcement teams to monitor the campaign activities to ensure there is no corruption involve. Otherwise, a report would be logdedto the police for further investigation.

 

Meanwhile, 22 polling centres will be set up, included one for early voting on March 25.

 

Balingian recorded a total of 13,366 registered voters where 13,322 are normal voters and 133 early voters. 

 

“We are expecting about 70 percent turnout to vote and announcement would be about 8pm on the polling day,” he added. 

 

Aziz also said the EC will be using the same ink used for Kuala Besut by-election, Sungai Limau by-election and Kajang by-election. 

 

“So far, we have not receive a single complaint about the ink,” he added. 

 

Baligian by-election was called follows the resignation of its assemblyman Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on Feb 28, before he was sworn in the seventh Head of State on March 1.