Kuala lumpur: The Pilah state seat will see a straight fight between two women candidates in the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election, with incumbent Datuk Noorzunita Begum Mohd Ibrahim of Pakatan Harapan (PH) facing Barisan Nasional's (BN) S. Leza Md Yasin.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the announcement was made by Kuala Pilah returning officer Nawal Mohammed Amin at the District and Land Office here today following the conclusion of the nomination process at 10 am today. Noorzunita Begum submitted her nomination form at 9.03 am, followed by S. Leza at 9.09 am.
The state polls will also witness three-cornered contests in the Juasseh, Seri Menanti, and Senaling state seats, while Johol will see a straight fight. The Juasseh seat is set for a three-way contest involving Mohd Aidil Abdullah (PH), incumbent Datuk Ismail Lasim (BN), and Mohd Zuhami Md Yusof (Bersatu).
In Seri Menanti, PH's Mohd Kamarul Arifin Mohd Wafa, incumbent Muhammad Sufian Maradzi of BN, and Bersatu's Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharuddin will vie for the seat in another three-cornered contest. The Senaling state seat will also see a three-cornered contest involving Mohd Hanis Mohd Alimin (PH), Mohamad Qayyum Abd Jalil (BN), and Mohd Izzafi Khan (Bersatu).
The Johol state seat, meanwhile, will see a straight fight between PH's Mohd Zailan Mohd Munawar and incumbent Datuk Saiful Yazan Sulaiman of BN. Earlier, PKR Wanita chief Fadhlina Sidek, who is also the Education Minister, accompanied PH candidates to submit their nomination papers.
Also present were Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) vice-chief Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, who is also Youth and Sports Minister, as well as Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister and Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin. Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister and UMNO Supreme Working Council (MKT) member Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, together with Perak Menteri Besar and Perak UMNO chairman Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, accompanied BN candidates during the nomination process.
The Election Commission has set July 28 for early voting and Aug 1 as polling day for the Negeri Sembilan state election.