FORMER Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir will take on his ex-party comrade, Barisan Nasional incumbent Othman Aziz, in a three-cornered fight for the Jerlun parliamentary seat.

PAS’ Abd Ghani Ahmad is another candidate contesting the Malay-majority seat in Jitra, Kedah.

Returning officer Mohamad Subhi Abdullah announced the candidacies at 11.50am at the Jerlun nomination centre.

Mukhriz, who will be contesting in Jerlun for the second time, said he had no qualms going against his former colleague, who is also caretaker deputy finance minister.

“I hope that the temperature during the campaign is kept cool, because it’s not like we don’t know each other.

“I think we should witness 11 days of intense campaigning, but hopefully in a very cordial manner,” Mukhriz said after filing his nomination forms.

He was the Jerlun MP from 2003 to 2008.

The 53-year-old, who contested under the PKR banner, said Pakatan Harapan’s machinery would be prepared to face any element of sabotage during the campaigning period.

“Based on inside sources, there are three or four hot seats, like Langkawi, Jerlun, and Pagoh. We know their intentions and are prepared to face any possibilities.”

Othman dismissed talk of BN supporters sabotaging candidates from other parties, saying the party was not involved in dirty work.

“It’s not our (Jerlun) culture to sabotage election candidates. I think it will not happen unless the other side makes provocations, because it takes two to tango.

“We fight fairly. Elections are about parties promising hope to the rakyat – but the issue is whether these hopes are realistic and can be delivered,” said Othman, who won the parliamentary seat in the last general election by 3,270 votes.

Kota Siputeh will also see a three-cornered fight between Amanah’s Salmee Said, BN’s Ahmad Azhar Abdullah, and PAS’ Mat Rejab Md Akhir.

The candidates for the Ayer Hitam state seat are Bersatu’s Abdul Aziz Mohamad, BN’s Abu Hasan Sarif and PAS’ Azhar Ibrahim. – April 28, 2018.