PAKATAN Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim and his Perikatan Nasional counterpart Muhyiddin Yassin were at the Gombak nomination centre this morning to support their coalitions’ respective candidates as elections in six states began today.

Anwar arrived at 8.45am with the delegate of PH and Barisan Nasional candidates. They were accompanied by Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg and BN secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Among the PH group were caretaker Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari, who is standing in Sungai Tua, Juwairiya Zulkifli (Hulu Kelang) and Megat Zulkarnain Omardin (Gombak Setia)

Muhyiddin was there with Bersatu members Mohamed Azmin Ali (Hulu Kelang), Hilman Idham (Gombak Setia) and Muhammad Hanif Jamaluddin (Sungai Tua)

The nomination centres opened at 9am today.

Candidates in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu have until 10am to file their nomination papers.

A total of 245 state seats, as well as the the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat, will be contested on August 12. The Kuala Terengganu federal seat was declared vacant following the Election Court’s nullification of PAS’ Ahmad Amzad Hashim’s November win.

A 14-day campaign period will begin after the candidates are announced today. It will run until 11.59pm on August 11.

Early voting is on August 8.

It is the first time the six states are holding their state elections separately from the general election. – July 29, 2023.