Rejected by BN, Shahidan Kassim turns up at Arau nomination centre in Perikatan blue

R. Loheswar
·1-min read
Malay Mail
Malay Mail

ARAU, Nov 5 — Umno warlord Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who was dropped from the Barisan Nasional’s GE15 line-up this week, arrived at Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajudin here surrounded by a huge group of supporters all wearing Perikatan Nasional (PN) T-shirts.

Shahidan's supporters far outnumbered those of his challengers from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Warisan and even the Umno-led BN who were also gathered outside the college which is serving as the election nomination centre this morning.

Shahidan, who stood at the front of the group, wore a broad smile on his face as his supporters chanted “Hidup PN” repeatedly.

This prompted supporters of the rival PH to roar back their signature battle cry of “Reformasi”.

The din continued until security personnel stepped in to increase the distance between the two groups to prevent the situation from escalating out of control.

Shahidan crossed over to PN after the Umno top leadership denied his bid to seek re-election in Arau earlier this week.

His three known challengers so far are Datuk Rozabil Abd Rahman from BN; Fathin Amelia Fazlie from PH; and Abdul Razak Abdul Khalek from Gerakan Tanah Air, the alliance of eclectic Malay parties led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad under his official Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.

Nominations officially open at 9am-10am nationwide today.

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