It's a straight fight between PAS and BN

The nomination process for N20 Sungai Limau by-election proceeded smoothly today.

PAS candidate, Mohd Azam Samat, 37, arrived at the Dewan Datuk Madi nomination centre at 8.30am today.

He was accompanied by PAS President, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and several PAS state leaders such as Datuk Mahfuz Omar and Pakatan Rakyat leaders such as Tian Chua and Azmin Ali.

Barisan Nasional candidate Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim, 52, meanwhile arrived at the nomination centre at 8.45am in a maroon baju Melayu.

He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and several other UMNO heavyweights.

Both the candidates then filed their nomination papers as soon as the centre opened at 9am to be approved by the Election Commission (EC).

The nomination process officially closed at 10am with EC officer Abdul Rashid Othman announcing a straight fight between BN and PAS for the Sungai Limau state seat.

Outside the gates of the nomination centre, an estimated 4,000-strong crowd from both sides of the political divide converged to show their support to the candidates, separated by plastic barriers and under the watchful eye of police personnel on duty.

Some were seen sporting banners which read ‘Turunkan Harga Minyak’ (Decrease Fuel Prices), and ‘Hidup Rakyat’ (Long Live the People) and other slogans aimed at both candidates.

With the nomination process now officially complete, the heat is on as both candidates begin their campaign trail to win the hearts and minds of the Sungai Limau constituents which will run for 11 days.

When met after the official closing of the nomination process, Mohd Azam said, the process proceeded smoothly without any untoward incident and was a success.

“I hope to continue the legacy legacy left by Ustaz Azizan (Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak) and bring about continuous development for the people,” Mohd Azam said.

The Sungai Limau state seat is situated in the Jerai Parliamentary constituency consisting of 27,222 voters of which, 25,323 are Malays, 1,842 Chinese, 15 Indians and the rest from other races including Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras.

Winning the Sungai Limau state seat in Kedah will be important for both PAS and UMNO as both have something to prove.

Kedah PAS, under its new leader Datuk Mahfuz Omar will need prove critics wrong, saying the Islamist party is losing the Malay ground and hope to win back the state like it did during the 2008 General Elections.

For Barisan Nasional meanwhile, who received the people’s mandate to govern the state during the May 5th polls, they will be under pressure to deliver with newly minted Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir at the helm.

It remains to be seen who will win the vote of the majority as voters head for the polls come Nov 4th.