BUKIT MERTAJAM, 21 Aug, 2008: Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) candidate Hanafi Hamat, who went home to Kelantan after filing his nomination papers on 16 Aug, is back in Permatang Pauh to kick off his campaign for the by-election in the parliamentary constituency.
Hanafi, who is Akim president, and several aides arrived from Kelantan yesterday and was seen putting up banners and distributing posters in Bukit Tengah here.
Hanafi said he had to return to Kelantan to gather his election paraphernalia because it was cheaper to print them there than in Penang.
Akim, a PAS splinter party, is relying on the slogan of Perpaduan Kesejahteraan Ummah (Unity for the Progress of Ummah) in facing the three-corner fight involving Hanafi, Barisan Nasional (BN)’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Hanafi, 61, said Akim was also setting up an operation room in Taman Pauh in Seberang Jaya.
He said during the campaign, he would go house to house and distribute posters but might not hold any ceramah.
Meanwhile, BN’s Arif said Akim would be able to attract disgruntled PKR supporters. “This will erode support towards PKR,” he said.
The by-election on 26 Aug is held following the resignation of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Permatang Pauh MP to give way for her husband, Anwar, to re-contest the seat.
The constituency has 58,449 voters comprising 68% Malays, 25% Chinese, 6% Indians, and the rest, other races. – Bernama
