Lokman acknowledged it would be hard for him to win, but said if he is able to reduce PH’s votes, it would be good enough to send a message that the rakyat are not happy with the way PH has been governing the country for the past two months.
“I plead with all registered voters in Sungai Kandis to go out and vote, to send a signal to PH.
“I am not merely carrying the voice of BN, but the voice of the people who are not happy with several issues, such as the special rights of Malays, which they have poked fun at, and the Malay language, which has been sidetracked,” he said when met outside the Dewan Besar Tanjung at the Shah Alam City Council building in Section 19 here today.
The Election Commission (EC) confirmed receiving the applications of three candidates for the Sungai Kandis by-election, which has been fixed for polling on Aug 4.
Returning officer Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad said the three candidates are from PKR, BN and an independent.
Zaharin said the PKR candidate is Zawawi Ahmad Mughni, Lokman from BN and independent candidate Murthy Krishnasamy.
Meanwhile, when met later, Zawawi said he and his party are 100% ready to campaign in the coming by-election.
He expressed hope that voters can continue the mission and mandate given to PKR before this, to care for the people of Sungai Kandis.
“I thank God that the nomination process proceeded smoothly and that there was no rejection. God willing, we will meet in the by-election battlefield.
“We urge Sungai Kandis voters to continue giving us the mandate, and I am confident the people are not merely entrusting me, but the party that has shown the best track record so far,” he said.
Murthy, who is now retired after having served in the Selangor civil service for the last 30 years, said he decided to contest in the by-election to ensure the welfare of the people in the area was well taken care of.
Murthy, 60, who hails from Klang, Selangor, believed there was nothing wrong in him trying his luck and contesting.
“This is a country that practises democracy, so let the people decide,” he said.
The Sungai Kandis seat became vacant following the death of its representative, Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei, early last month, due to lymphoma cancer.
Shuhaimi had, in the 14th general election, won the seat with 23,998 votes, defeating BN candidate Kamaruzzaman Johari, who received 11,518 votes, Mohd Yusof Abdullah from PAS who got 7,573 votes, and the Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) candidate Hanafiah Husin, who received 76 votes.