IT’S official: the Manik Urai by-election is a straight fight between PAS candidate Mohd Fauzi Abdullah and Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat from Umno.
Nomination, held at SMK Sultan Yahya Petra (1)’s Dewan Petra, began at 9am today, although supporters from both camps arrived much earlier. PAS supporters, over 10,000-strong, marched from Jauhar Mosque in Guchil. The BN crowd, at over 2,000, marched from their coalition headquarters in downtown Kuala Krai.
The window to file nominations ended at 10am. The objection period ended an hour later. According to the Election Commission’s returning officer, Adnan Hussin, one objection was submitted but was struck out after clarification.
Candidates were officially announced just after 11am. Voters in Manik Urai will go to the polls on 14 July 2009 for a state seat that is believed to be a PAS stronghold. 
