SEBERANG PERAI: While PKR’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and BN’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah were, as expected, confirmed as candidates for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election, a third surprise candidate emerged from little known Islamic party, the Angkatan Insan Malaysia (Akim).

Hanafi Hamat of Akim

Proclaiming to offer "renewal" to Malaysian society, trader Hanafi Hamat, 61, faced reporters by refusing to feel cowed in the presence of his two heavyweight rivals.

In an atmosphere akin to a massive carnival, some 30,000 supporters from all sides converged at the Institusi Perguruan Tuanku Bainun to show their support during the nominations for the seat.

Hanafi at first passed by almost unnoticed as he walked to the nomination hall until someone alerted the press, who were caught off-guard, that he was a new candidate for the highly publicised by-election.

When met later, Hanafi said he wanted to help eradicate social ills in Permatang Pauh, and that he would take a "house-to-house" approach in his campaign over the next 10 days.

Asked where his election campaign centre was located, he said it was somewhere on the fringes of Permatang Pauh ("hujung Permatang Pauh").

Asked how many operations centres he had, Hanafi, who has 12 children, replied: "Banyak, tapi tak pasti lagi" (Many, but not confirmed yet).

He said the decision to compete was made last week when the Akim committee resolved to join the fray.

He also claimed to have about 1,000 supporters in Penang and some 15,000 members throughout the country.

Hanafi, who heads Akim, said he left PAS in 1995 after feeling disillusioned with the party. He added that the by-election was a good forum to introduce his party to the nation.

Hanafi was assemblyman for Tanah Merah in Kelantan from 1996 to 1999.

Asked if he was confident of retaining his deposit in the election, he replied: "God willing."

Reporters were also taken by surprise when former PKR state chairman Mansor Othman appeared to file his own nomination papers. He withdrew later, leaving many people confused.

According to PKR sources, Mansor may have wanted to be nominated as a back-up to Anwar, in case the latter’s nomination was rejected by the Election Commission (EC).