Rompin: It looks like the wind is blowing for Hassan

 

ROMPIN: It’s D-day today. After almost two weeks of campaigning, voters in Rompin will decide who is best to represent their interests.

A total of 53,294 registered voters will come out to cast their votes.

On April 30, 464 (85.1%) early voters have already exercised their right.

Either Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Hasan Arifin or Nazri Ahmad of PAS will be sworn in during the next Parliament meeting.

Pundits are putting their money on Hasan, who has a clear advantage over the inexperienced Nazri.

The only thing to watch out for is whether Hasan, a former assemblyman and deputy mentri besar, can retain the majority of 15,114-vote in the last general election.

Shortly after nomination day, Hasan attended up to six programmes daily to meet voters.

He scored a brownie point recently when the Government agreed to bring down the prices of Felda houses for the benefit of the second generation of settlers.

Hasan attended a final event last night with some 300 locals in Kuala Rompin while Nazri’s campaign manager preferred to keep pressmen out of the loop.

Most of Nazri’s campaigning was done in a low key approach and the Pahang PAS Youth chief only spoke on several occasions.

The daily press conference at its base in Muadzam Shah was conducted by other party leaders such as Pahang PAS commissioner Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Beserah assemblyman Andansura Rabu and National Felda’s Children Association president Mazlan Aliman.

Nazri’s campaign trail ended with thousands of supporters showing up for an anti-GST rally at an open field.

At the stroke of midnight, all forms of campaigning came to a stop and both candidates are expected to be up early to vote today.

Hasan will do so in SK Leban Chondong while Nazri at Sekolah Agama Rakyat LKTP Keratong 5.

Yesterday also saw preparations for the by-election in full swing with officials from the Elections Commission using a helicopter to send ballot boxes to Tioman Island.

Meanwhile, police issued a statement informing the public of a road closure in front of the tallying centre in Sultan Ahmad Shah silver jubilee hall in Kuala Rompin.

It said the road closure will be effective from 8pm today until the official result is announced.

The public are reminded to co-operate and use alternative route as directed by the police. The result is only expected after 11pm.