KUALA LUMPUR – The three state seats under the Gombak parliamentary constituency are shaping up to be the hottest in Selangor as some of the biggest names turned up this morning for nomination day.
Today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim joined in the Gombak unity march to accompany the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the three seats – Sg Tua, Gombak Setia and Hulu Kelang.
Anwar, who is also PH chairman, arrived at 8.50am and was seen walking with caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (PH) for the Sg Tua seat, PH’s Juwairiya Zulkifli (Hulu Kelang) and BN’s Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin (Gombak Setia).
Other federal leaders also joined in the procession that started at the Sg Chinchin bridge to the nomination centre at SMK Sg Pusu.
They were Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, Sabah Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and Sabah Umno chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
With hundreds of supporters waving PH and BN flags, they chanted several unity government slogans while walking nearly 1km to the school.
Just outside the nomination centre, Anwar shouted “reformasi” to much fanfare and applause before leaving for a nomination centre in Selayang.
Meanwhile, a few Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders, such as coalition chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, also showed up to support their candidates.
The opposition coalition has nominated Selangor PN chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali for the Hulu Kelang state seat while Selangor PN secretary Muhammad Hilman Idham and Selangor PAS Youth deputy chief Muhammad Hanif Jamaluddin are contesting the Gombak Setia and Sg Tua seats, respectively.
On the sidelines, about 50 PN supporters held a “solat hajat” session in the middle of the field at the nomination centre in Gombak.
Supporters from both sides also traded barbs, with the PN crowd hurling slurs towards PH and BN supporters k. In response, PH and BN supporters chanted “sakau” and “penyamun”.
The Election Commission has set August 12 as the polling date for the state elections in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Penang as well as the Kuala Terengganu by-election, with early voting on August 8. – July 29, 2023
