GUA MUSANG: The flag war in the Nenggiri state by-election has started to heat up with the two contesting parties - Barisan Nasional and Pas, jostling to put up the most number of flags and posters.
Several main roads and villages have been filled with hundreds of blue BN flags and green Pas flags.
Hundreds of party workers from both parties were mobilised to conduct the poster and flag war soon after nomination day on Saturday.
They usually work from 10pm to the wee hours of the morning.
The Nenggiri state by-election is a straight fight between BN's Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani and Pas's Mohd Rizwadi Ismail.
Since Saturday, Azmawi has going from village to village to convince people to vote for him as their next state assemblyman.
With 14 years of experience in politics, the Kelantan Umno Youth chief is ready to work.
"My routine activities have changed a little bit but I do not mind. I will take this as a new lesson and with the support of other Umno members from Kelantan and other states, we will ensure that BN will win the Aug 17 by-election," he said.
The 38-year-old also hoped to attract more youths and Orang Asli to support and cast their votes for BN.
Meanwhile, Pas is fielding Rizwadi, a former navy officer who also former Gua Musang Pas deputy youth chief.
The 41-year-old says he is confident of winning the seat.
Apart from house-to-house campaigning to win over voters, Rizwadi said he would use his years of experience in politics and as a former navy officer to woo voters.
The Nenggiri state by-election was called after Kelantan Speaker, Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, declared the seat, previously held by Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, vacant.
In the Kelantan state election held in August last year, Mohd Azizi won Nenggiri with a narrow majority of 810 votes in a straight fight against a BN candidate.
Mohd Azizi, who is also Gua Musang member of parliament, was among the seven elected representatives dismissed from Bersatu for supporting the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Based on the latest Election Commission electoral roll, the Nenggiri state seat has 20,245 eligible voters, comprising 17,561 Malays, 2,560 Orang Asli and 119 Chinese.
The 20,245 voters comprise 10,285 men and 9,960 women, and they would be casting their votes at the 20 voting districts in the state seat.