Palanivel is party leader with most number of challengers in GE13

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KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri G Palanivel may not have expected this but he has the distinction of being the party leader with the most number of challengers in the May 5 general election.

While his counterparts in the Barisan Nasional (BN), as well as the opposition pact are contentedly settling for ‘simpler’ encounters, Palanivel is pitted against four other contenders for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat.

He will face M Manogaran of DAP, Berjasa’s Mohd Shokri Mahmood, and independents N P Kisho Kumar and T Alagu for the coveted constituency.

It is more straight forward for incumbent Pekan member of parliament and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is in a one-on-one tussle with Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Fariz Musa. Najib, who is also Umno president, has been Pekan member of parliament since 1976.

Down south, Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is set to defend his Pagoh parliamentary seat against PAS’ Mohd Rozali Jamil.

But the spotlight will definitely be on Gelang Patah in Johor where a fiery one-on-one battle is on the cards.

The proponents of the electoral face-off, dubbed the ‘mother of all battles’, are two political heavyweights – Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman for the BN and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

In Kelantan, Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat from PAS is in a straight fight with BN’s Wan Razman Wan Abdul Razak for the Chempaka state seat.

The octogenarian politician, whose frail health has caused worry among party members and supporters lately, is attempting to defend the seat for the seventh term.

And a keenly-contested tussle is expected in the Pasir Mas parliamentary constituency where Nik Aziz’s son, Nik Abduh, is challenging incumbent Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

The president of Malay rights group Perkasa is standing as an independent.

On the other hand, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang is being challenged by BN’s Datuk Yahya Khatib Mohamad for the Marang parliamentary seat in Terengganu.

On the other side of the peninsula, DAP chairman Karpal Singh will attempt to fend off the challenge from BN’s Teh Beng Yeam for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has found himself in a three-way battle in his defence of the Bagan parliamentary seat in Penang.

His rivals are Lim Kim Chu of Parti Cinta Malaysia and BN’s Chua Teik Siang.

And, PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can expect a tough fight from BN’s Dr Mazlan Ismail (BN), as well as independent candidate Dr Abdullah Zawawi Samsudin, for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, also in Penang.

In Keningau, incumbent and Parti Bersatu Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, representing BN, will face off against his brother, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who is Sabah State Reform Party chairman, and PKR’s Stephen Sandor.

Over in Saratok, Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom will attempt to see off two other contenders for the parliamentary seat, namely Ali Biju of PKR and independent candidate Datuk Abang Rosli Abang Paleng. — Bernama