Budiman of BN gets media attention at 'tarawih' prayers

Over the past three years, Budiman Mohd Zohdi has never missed launching his 'tarawih' prayers at the advent of Ramadan at the Nurul Hidayah Mosque in Sungai Panjang.

It was no different for the Sungai Panjang state assemblymen this year, except that he came under the focus of a pack of cameramen and photographers at the mosque, located some 20km from here, last night.

He was not in the least bothered by the media attention, given that he is the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Sungai Besar parliamentary by-election.

Budiman completed his prayers and then continued with his campaign, visiting and chatting with the campaign workers at the BN operations rooms at the Binjai Jaya and Kampung Tok Khalifa polling districts.

Approached by Bernama, Budiman said it was nothing unusual for him to attend tarawih prayers in the Sungai Panjang state constituency over the past three years as the state assemblyman.

"I feel excited and will keep up the momentum. Fasting will not hinder my campaign in any way," he said, referring to the start of the Ramadan dawn-to-dusk fast today.

Meanwhile, about 20 people were seen at the campaign 'ceramah' (talk) of Parti Amanah Negara at Jalan Tengah Lembaga Padi Negara here last night.

The Amanah candidate for the Sungai Besar by-election, Azhar Abdul Shukur, who is the Sungai Besar Amanah chairman; Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani and Selangor Amanah committee member Mariam Abdul Rashid addressed the gathering.

Azhar also chatted with the people and expressed his intention to bring about a change to the Sungai Besar community.

Amanah also held ceramah at the fishing village here and Sekinchan town.

The Sungai Besar by-election is a three-cornered contest among Budiman (BN), Azhar (Amanah) and Meru assemblyman Dr Abdul Rani Osman of PAS.

It is being held following the death of the MP, Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon, in a helicopter crash in Sarawak on May 5.

Polling is on June 18.