PETALING JAYA: Umno will field a candidate in the Nenggiri by-election, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The party has also appointed Tengku Razaleigh as Nenggiri by-election director.

The Election Commission (EC) has set the polling day for the by-election in Kelantan on Aug 17.

The newly-appointed EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the nomination and early voting for the by-election had also been set for Aug 3 and 13, respectively.

ALSO READ: Perikatan to field Bersatu candidate for Nenggiri by-election, says Muhyiddin

“The electoral roll to be used for the Nenggiri state by-election contains 20,259 electors. This by-election will be held at a cost of RM1.6mil,” he told a press conference after chairing the EC special meeting to discuss matters pertaining to the polls at Menara SPR here on Friday (June 28).

Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional will field a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) candidate in the by-election.

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this decision was an early one as Nenggiri is a Bersatu seat.

ALSO READ: Nenggiri goes to the polls on Aug 17, EC declares

Prior to this, Kelantan State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah announced the state seat vacant starting June 19. The casual seat vacancy for Nenggiri was announced after the Kelantan State Assembly received a written notice in accordance with Clause (3) of Article 31A of the Kelantan Constitution from Nenggiri state assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim on June 13.

Ramlan said a total of 431 election workers will be appointed for this by-election. He said the EC has appointed a returning officer and three assistant returning officers to oversee the Nenggiri by-election process, while two election campaign enforcement teams, which will comprise the police, local authorities and contesting party representatives, will also be set up to monitor campaign activities throughout the campaign period.

The nomination process and official vote tallying will be held at the Dewan Perdana of the Gua Musang District Council complex. – Bernama