Three-cornered fight in Slim by-election

They are Tanjung Malim UMNO deputy chief Mohd Zaidi Aziz, 43, for BN, while the Independent candidates are S. Sentharasekaran, 44, and lawyer Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi, 38, who is representing the yet-to-be registered Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang).

The announcement on the list of candidates for the by-election was made by returning officer Shamsul Ridzuan Idris at about 10.35 am after the nomination process at Dewan Sri Tanjung, Majlis Daerah Tanjung Malim closed at 10 am.

"I have checked the nomination papers and am satisfied...none of the candidates had their nomination papers rejected,” when announcing the names of the candidates.

Earlier, Mohd Zaidi, who arrived with his proposer, Tanjung Malim PAS chief Mohd Tarmizi Ab Rahman and supporter, Tanjung Malim MIC division secretary G. Magendran, submitted his nomination form at 9.03 to defend the BN seat.

Amir Khusyairi, accompanied by his proposer, Mohd Fazley Mohd Isa and supporter, Siti Robangiah Abdul Jalil, submitted his nomination papers at 9.04 am. He is using the tree symbol.

Sentharasekaran, former teacher, is using the book symbol.

He submitted his nomination form at 9.02 am and was accompanied to the nomination centre by his proposer, P. Chantiran, and supporter, Chai Kin Kheong.

The Election Commission (EC) has set Aug 29 as polling day for the Slim by-election.

The Slim by-election is called following the death of its incumbent Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib, 59, of a heart attack on July 15.

In the 14th General Election, Mohd Khusairi of BN defended the Slim state seat for the fourth term with a majority of 2,183 votes, defeating the Bersatu candidate who contested on a PKR ticket, Mohd Amran Ibrahim, and PAS candidate Muhammad Zulfadli Zainal.

There are 23,094 registered voters in the Slim state constituency, comprising 22,815 ordinary voters, 277 early voters and two overseas absentee voters.