The independents are Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli.

The candidates were announced by returning officer Zaliza Zulkipli at the close of nominations at the National Youth Skills Training Institute in Pekan, Pahang, this morning.

Sharim, 41, is a Pekan Umno committee member and Kuantan Felda Youth Council chairman.

Businessman Tengku Zainul Hisham, 64, the former Pekan PPBM deputy division chief, is using the ‘’house’’ symbol and has also come up with a manifesto titled “Menjadi Suara Rakyat Chini’ (Becoming the Voice of the People of Chini).

Shukri, 49, is a social activist.

Chini is among four state seats under the Pekan parliamentary constituency, which is held by former prime minister Najib Razak.

The by-election follows the death of the assemblyman, Umno’s Abu Bakar Harun, 60, on May 6.

In the 14th general election, Bakar, a three-term incumbent, retained the Chini seat with a 4,622-vote majority, beating PAS candidate Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim, who received 5,405 votes, and Mohamad Razali Ithnain from PKR, who obtained only 1,065 votes.

PAS and PKR are not contesting this time around.

Chini has 20,900 registered voters, comprising 20,972 regular voters and 18 early voters. Those aged 40 and below make up 56% cent of the electorate.

This is the first by-election to be held since the movement control order was enforced in March.

The Election Commission has said ceramahs, house-to-house visits and walkabouts are allowed, subject to standard operating procedures (SOPs) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It also said each voter will be given a plastic glove before signing in and they will be given a brush to paint their finger.

Postal voting begins tomorrow.

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