NOMINATION for the Chini state by-election opened at 8am today.

Due to the Covid-19 threat, supporters of the election candidates are not allowed to be present at the Dewan Utama Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara, the nomination centre, in Pekan.

Health officials are present at the hall to take action in case a candidate, proposer or seconder shows symptoms of infection.

Chini is one of four state seats under the Pekan parliamentary constituency, which MP is former prime minister Najib Razak.

The by-election was called upon the death of the Barisan Nasional incumbent Abu Bakar Harun, 60, on May 6.

The Election Commission has allowed the election candidates to hold indoor ceramah, go door-to-door and walkabouts during the campaign period, conditional upon compliance with health and safety guidelines, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The 11th by-election since the 2018 general election, this is the first big test for the Perikatan Nasional government that was formed in February.

Barisan Nasional (BN) has announced the candidacy of Mohd Sharim Md Zain, 41, a Pekan Umno committee member and the Majlis Belia Felda Wilayah Kuantan chairman. He is a second-generation Felda Chini settler.

Pakatan Harapan is sitting this one out.

Sharim is expected to go up against independent candidate Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, 64, a businessman.

Tengku Zainal has drawn up a manifesto entitled “Menjadi suara rakyat Chini” (“Voice of the people of Chini”). 

In the general election, Abu Bakar, a three-term incumbent, retained the Chini seat with a 4,622-vote majority, beating PAS candidate Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim, who received 5,405 votes, and Mohamad Razali Ithnain of PKR, with 1,065 votes.

Chini has 20,900 registered voters, comprising 20,972 regular voters and 18 early voters. Those aged 40 and below make up 56% of the voters.

Nomination is from 9am-10 am. Returning officer Zaliza Zulkipli is expected to announce the names of the candidates by 11 am.

Polling is on July 4. – Bernama, June 20, 2020.