Hishammuddin faces Abu Bakar again

KLUANG: Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein is once again being challenged by the PKR co-ordinator for the Sembrong parliamentary seat, Onn Abu Bakar in a straight fight in the 14th general election (GE14).
This is the second time that Hishammuddin, the grandson of Umno founder Datuk Onn Jaafar, is facing the Putrajaya PKR division head after GE13 when he defeated his challenger with a majority of 10,631 votes.
Hishammuddin submitted his nomination papers at the Taman Sri Lambak Community Hall here at 9.12am today, after Onn sent his at 9.03am.
Earlier, Hishammuddin who is caretaker Defence Minister as well as caretaker Minister with Special Functions arrived at the Sembrong Community Building at 8.20am, welcomed by about 1,000 BN supporters.
Hishammuddin, together with BN candidate for Paloh, Teoh Yap Kun and Kahang BN candidate R. Vidyananthan, then led the procession to the Taman Sri Lambak Community Hall at 9.08am to present their nomination papers.
Meanwhile, the Paloh state seat also sees a three-cornered fight with incumbent Teoh, 65, challenged by Pakatan Harapan Leadership Council member Sheikh Omar Bagharib Ali,33, who is a new face, and independent candidate M. Shamugam, 46.
In GE13, Teoh who is a former teacher, won with a majority of 103 votes after defeating DAP candidate R. Shanker.
For the Kahang state seat, incumbent R. Vidyananthan, 45, is facing Tebrau PPBM Srikandi head Noorlihan Ariffin, 40, from PKR-PPBM.
The nominations of all the candidates were confirmed and announced by Sembrong returning officer Nasri Md Ali, at 11.38am.
In Segamat, MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam is facing a three-cornered fight for the parliamentary seat and is challenged by Pakatan Harapan's Datuk Seri Dr R. Santhara Kumar from PKR and PAS candidate Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil who is the assistant secretary-general 1 of the party.
Meanwhile, new BN candidate Chiam Yoke Meng from MCA who is contesting the Jementah state seat is facing a three-cornered fight, facing incumbent Tan Chen Choon from DAP and PAS candidate Khairul Faizi.
Another new face is Umno Segamat division head, Datuk Zahari Sarip who is contesting the Buloh Kasap state seat in a straight fight with Norsamsu Mohd Yusof from PPBM. — Bernama