INDEPENDENT candidate Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar today launched her Tanjung Piai by-election campaign, saying her late showing is due to a lack of funds and a small polls machinery.

With the 45-year-old at a press conference in Serkat was Kumpulan Big Blue Capital (M) Sdn Bhd founder and CEO Shamsubahrin Ismail, who was supposed to run in the November 16 by-election, but had to be admitted to hospital on the eve of nomination last Saturday due to a heart problem.

“We are starting our campaign only now because of a lack of funds. We don’t have a huge capital. In the remaining days of the campaign period… we will go all out with our 18-man election machinery in all the 27 polling districts,” Faridah Aryani told reporters.

She said she is contesting in the hopes of being able to champion the plight of the low-income group and taxi drivers in Tg Piai.

“We will convince voters that we want to improve the economy and increase the income of B40 households. We will try to find ways to improve their quality of life.”

The single mother of four said she is not targeting a certain number of votes, but hopes to not lose her deposit.

A candidate loses their deposit if they do not get more than an eighth of the total number of votes cast. The deposit to contest a parliamentary seat is RM10,000.

Faridah Aryani is up against five other candidates, namely Karmaine Sardini of Pakatan Harapan, Wee Jeck Seng (Barisan Nasional), Wendy Subramaniam (Gerakan), Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz (Berjasa) and Ang Chuan Lock (independent).

The by-election was called following the death of PH MP Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, 42, from heart complications on September 21. – Bernama, November 8, 2019.