Johor polls: Shahruddin and Onn Hafiz in four-cornered fight in Machap

KLUANG: Parti Pejuang Tanah Air's (Pejuang) Johor chief Datuk Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh and Barisan Nasional's (BN) Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi are involved in a four-cornered fight for the Machap seat in the Johor state election.

Shahruddin, a former UMNO member, and Onn Hafiz, a great grandson of UMNO founder Datuk Onn Jaafar, will slug it out with Johor PAS Dewan Ulama chief Azlisham Azahar, who is contesting under Perikatan Nasional (PN), and R. Sangaran of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA).

Shahruddin is also the MP for Sri Gading and former deputy works minister while Onn Hafiz won the Layang-Layang state seat in the 14th general election (GE14) and is a former Johor state executive councillor.

The names of the candidates were announced by returning officer Mohd Faiz Mohd Salleh, who said Sangaran was the first to submit his nomination papers at 9.04 am today, followed by Sharuddin at 9.07 am, Onn Hafiz at 9.15 am and Azlisham at 9.19 am.

"After checking the nomination forms, I'm satisfied and have decided that no forms of any candidates will be rejected," he said at the nomination centre at Dewan Orang Ramai Simpang Renggam here.

In GE14, Abd Taib Abu Bakar of UMNO won the Machap seat by a majority of just 404 votes, beating Ahmad Ahem (PH-Bersatu) and Azlisham (PAS).

Sangaran was the first to arrive at the nomination centre at 8.30 am, followed by Sharuddin, who was wearing a white baju Melayu, at 8.54 am.

At 9.10 am, Onn Hafiz, dressed in a blue baju Melayu, arrived together with a proposer and a seconder, followed by Azlisham, wearing a green baju Melayu, at 9.15 am.

Speaking to reporters, Onn Hafiz, 43, said he was merely abiding by the party leadership's decision to contest in Machap instead of defending Layang-Layang.

"I am confident the people of Machap will be able to see which party can truly serve the rakyat," said Onn Hafiz, a nephew of UMNO treasurer-general Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Shahruddin, 66, said his experience as Sri Gading MP would give him the edge in Machap.

"I was raised in Simpang Renggam and studied at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Simpang Renggam. So, it is time for me to serve this area," he added.

Azlisham, who is the principal of Sekolah Menengah Agama Arab Almasriyah, said he would work hard to help PN form the government in Johor.

Lawyer Sangaran, 32, said he was undaunted in facing his more experienced opponents, adding that he entered politics with the hope of changing the country's political landscape.

-- BERNAMA