GUA MUSANG: The Bersatu candidate for the Nenggiri by-election Mohd Rizwadi Ismail joined the party just two days before being announced as the candidate yesterday.
The selection of Rizwadi, who is the former Gua Musang deputy Pas Youth chief, is believed to be a last-minute decision despite the there being two names previously mentioned to be candidates.
The two names were Sheikh Razali Hamad and Sun Najaman Muhamad.
A source said the decision was made after discussions among Perikatan Nasional's leaders reached a deadlock. This was compounded by concerns of a possible boycott among the party machinery if a Bersatu quota for the seat was maintained.
"Because of this, the leadership chose and requested for Rizwadi to join Bersatu. His membership was very recent, only two days before the announcement was made yesterday.
"To outsiders, it might appear as if a Pas candidate is running and Bersatu is just being used, but we in Bersatu consider him our representative since he has filled out the form and joined our party.
"However, we do not dismiss the possibility that some among us who are dissatisfied, but it does not involve a large group," the source said.
Yesterday, Rizwadi, a retired officer of the Royal Malaysian Navy was announced as the candidate for the Nenggiri state seat by-election.
Kelantan Pas deputy commissioner Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said the 41-year-old from Kampung Bertam Baru was chosen due to his young age and because the majority of voters in the state constituency are youths.
On June 19, Kelantan State Assembly Speaker, Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, announced that the Nenggiri seat was vacant after Mohd Azizi Abu Naim's membership was revoked by Bersatu on June 13.
The Election Commission (EC) has set nomination and early voting dates for the by-electionfor Aug 3 and Aug 13, respectively, with the polling day on Aug 17.