Women show strong support to Rubiah as BN candidate

April 22, 2013, Monday

ENTHUSIASTIC: Rubiah poses with BN supporters at the Kota Samarahan Civic Centre.
Among them are Shahrizat (fifth right), Fatimah (fourth left), Mohd Ali (third right) and
Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (third left). — Photos By Jeffery Mostapa

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Womenfolk made their presence strongly felt on nomination day for the Kota Samarahan seat Saturday.

As expected, it is a straight fight between Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu – Barisan Nasional’s (PBB/BN) Rubiah Wang and PAS’s Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus for this semi-rural constituency of mostly Malay voters.

First-time candidate Rubiah was accompanied by Wanita BN chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and PBB Women deputy chief Datuk Fatimah Abdullah who is also state minister for Welfare, Women and Family Development.

Also on hand to lend support were Muara Tuang assemblyman Dato Sri Mohd Ali Mahmud, Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and a 1,000 strong contingent of blue-shirt supporters carrying PBB and BN flags.

Many arrived as early as 8am on chartered buses and had earlier gathered at Masjid Darul Taqwa about half a kilometre from the Kota Samarahan Civic Centre which was the official nomination centre.

Meanwhile, Abang Ahmad Kerdee was accompanied by a smaller group of 100 green-clad supporters carrying banners, flags and signs.

Rubiah and Abang Ahmad Kerdee arrived at the nomination centre at 9am on the dot, accompanied by their respective supporters who waited more than an hour outside the civic centre for their candidates to be confirmed.

First to submit nomination papers was Rubiah at 9.05am. Her application was proposed by Jemat Abak and seconded by Mahani Sahari.

This was followed by Abang Ahmad Kerdee at 9.15am, who was proposed by Zulkipli Ramzi and seconded by Mahathir Ahmad.

While waiting for returning officer Mohd Ainnie Wahab to scrutinise the applications, BN supporters chanted slogans in support of their candidate including ‘Hidup BN!’ (Long live BN!).

PAS supporters were contented to sing religious songs while shouting the occasional “Allahuakhbar!” (God is great!).

Although spirits on both sides were high, no untoward incidents were reported as the two groups were a few hundred metres apart and separated by metal barriers set up earlier by police. Policemen in plainclothes and uniform standing between both groups kept a watchful eye on both sides at all times.

It is understood that the police held a meeting with supporters from both camps a day earlier to brief them and designate waiting areas for the respective groups.

At 10.20am, just twenty minutes after nominations had closed, Mohd Ainnie announced that Rubiah and Abang Ahmad Kerdee would be the candidates for Kota Samarahan, to cheers from both sides of supporters.