MELAKA: Despite campaigning being toned down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a fierce battle looms at the Paya Rumput state seat as there will be five parties joining in the fray – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PKR, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), Barisan Nasional and an independent.

       PKR information chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, a two-term MP for Hang Tuah Jaya, will be taking on Bersatu’s Faris Izwan Mazlan, Barisan’s Datuk Rais Yassin, Putra’s Mohamad Hashidi Mohd Zin, and independent candidate Mohd Jaini Dimon.

       However, Shamsul Iskandar seems to have had a head start as he began working the ground even prior to nomination day.

       On Oct 31, he was fined RM10,000 for holding a crowdless ceramah at Taman Krubong Jaya.

       Yesterday, when nominations opened, Mohamad Hashidi was the first to arrive at 8.35am, followed shortly after by Shamsul Iskandar, Faris Izwan, Rais and Mohd Jaini Dimon.

       All five filed their respective candidacy at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Krubong in a relatively subdued affair as candidates were only allowed to be accompanied by a proposer and seconder, due to Covid-19 precautions.

       Before the “new normal”, nomination days were usually lively events as major parties such as Barisan and Pakatan Harapan would bring groups of supporters, effigies and even music to render moral support to their candidates.

       In the 13th general election, Paya Rumput, which also falls under the Tangga Batu parliamentary seat, was held by Barisan’s Datuk Sazali Muhd Din with a narrow 1,270 votes against PKR.

       In the 14th general election, Bersatu’s Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen garnered 12,102 votes under Pakatan for the state seat in a three-cornered fight against Barisan’s Datuk Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah (7,843 votes) and PAS’ Rafie Ahmad (1,552 votes).

       This time round, Rafiq, who is now the state Perikatan chief, will not be defending the Paya Rumput seat.

       He will instead contest in Telok Mas, which will also see a tight four-cornered fight between him and candidates fielded by Pakatan and Barisan as well as an independent.