Fishmonger to net Manek Urai for PAS

Andrew Ong | Jun 26, 09 5:29pm

PAS will be fielding its Kuala Krai division treasurer Mohd Fauzi Abdullah as their candidate for the July 14 Manek Urai state seat by-election in Kelantan.
MCPX

His candidacy was announced by PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat during a ceramah at about 11pm in Kampung Manek Urai Lama.

Other speakers include Pakatan Rakyat bigwigs PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, former PAS vice-president Husam Musa, PKR strategist Saifuddin Nasution and DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

Fauzi Abdullah, in his 50s, is a turban-clad wealthy fishmonger and businessman. He was born and bred in Kuala Krai, the nearest town in the largely rural Malay-majority Manek Urai constituency.

He is also member of the Kuala Krai municipal council since 1999.

Choice of candidates is crucial

The choice of candidates is deemed to be extremely crucial in this rural conservative constituency, who regard their elected representatives more as troubleshooters than as lawmakers.

manek urai state seat 220509"Especially in Kelantan, the people's expectation of their state representative is for them to serve the people," Kelantan PAS elections machinery deputy director Nasir Daud told Malaysiakini.

"They want a local hero to be with them all the time. He doesn't have to be well-educated or be national leadership material," said another leader who requested anonymity.

The Manek Urai by-election was necessitated by the death of five-term incumbent Ismail Yaakob.

Though regarded as a PAS stronghold, the margin of victory here during the last several elections have been modest at best, rarely exceeding 2,000 votes.

Rivals Umno is expected to announce its candidate on Sunday.

No clear frontrunner is in sight but names that have been mentioned includes Kuala Krai Youth chief Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat, Kuala Krai division chief Ramzi Abdul Rahman and former division chief Wan Zaid Abdullah.

Earlier, Malaysiakini reported that local Umno leaders were apprehensive about fielding Ramzi, thus paving the way for Tuan Aziz, a decorated civil servant, to contest.

However, when contacted on June 24, Tuan Aziz said, if it was possible, he would not want to be a candidate, adding that there are many other capable senior party leaders.

Nik Aziz attacks Umno again

Traditionally, both parties appoint their respective deputy presidents as heads of the by-election campaign.

nik aziz angry 170609"We are expecting a fierce fight. Tok Pa (Kelantan Umno liaison chief Mustapa Mohamed) may say that Umno is the underdog, but they are strongly pursuing this seat and using words like 'rampas' (snatch) to describe their strategy," said Nasir, when asked about PAS' chances.

Meanwhile, during tonight's ceramah, Nik Aziz again called Umno 'communist'.

He previously said this at a ceramah on July 21, earning him a police report by Umno for allegedly inciting hatred and uttering seditious words.

"If we don't call them communist, what else do we call them? They reject God," he told the thousands who packed the field.

Additional reporting by Fauzi Azmi, Abdul Rahim Sabri and Muda Mohd Noor.