DR MAHATHIR Mohamad’s latest political party, Pejuang, will get to test its mettle against fierce rival Umno in a three-cornered fight for the Perak Assembly constituency of Slim, with campaigning beginning today.

At the close of nominations at 10.30am, returning officer Shamsul Redzuan Idris announced at the nominations centre in Tg Malim that Umno will be represented by Mohd Zaidi Aziz – who will campaign under the Barisan Nasional banner – with two independents: Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi and Santhara Segaran Subramaniam.

Zaidi, 43, is the acting chief for Umno Tg Malim division, while Amir, 38, is a lawyer.

Amir, who was announced as a Pejuang candidate, is contesting as an independent because Pejuang has not yet been approved by the Registrar of Societies.

The by-election will be a baptism of fire for Pejuang as it vies for Malay support with Umno in a constituency that is 77% Malay.

This is also Perikatan’s second by-election after winning the Chini by-election in Pahang on July 4.

Slim, which has 23,094 voters, is dominated by seven Felda settlements, which make up more than half of the total electorate.

The seat was vacated on July 15 following the death of assemblyman Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib at Bentong Hospital in Pahang.

The 59-year-old four term assemblyman is believed to have collapsed while playing golf at Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort.

At the last general election in 2018, Khusairi, who was the Tg Malim Umno chief, defended his seat with 8,327 votes. Bersatu’s Mohd Amran Ibrahim garnered 6,144 votes and PAS’s Muhammad Zulfadli Zainal received 4,103 votes.

Polling for Slim will be held on August 29, with early voting on August 25.

There are 59 seats in the Perak Assembly. BN holds 25 seats, Bersatu five and PAS three.

DAP leads the opposition coalition in the state with 16 seats, Amanah has five and PKR three.

Gerakan and an independent each hold one seat each. – August 15, 2020.