Party Tanah Melayu Beragama Islam

Grandma, 89, steals the show

The divorced grandmother, possibly the oldest ever candidate in the elections, was announced as an independent candidate for Kuala Terengganu.

It was her fifth effort to qualify for candidacy. She said that she failed in her last four attempts due to technicalities and lack of documentation.

Many were initially sceptical of her intent at the nomination centre at Kompleks Seri Iman here, but when returning officer Datuk Mat Razali Kassim officially stamped her candidacy, amusement filled the room.

The odds are stacked against her, as she will be up against seasoned politicians like PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu and Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Razali Ismail.

Both politicians, however, took time to chat with Maimun, who appeared frail but zesty.

Even Barisan candidate for Batu Burok Nordiana Shafie wished the Kampung Pengadang Akar resident, who runs a kain songket business, well for the March 8 polls.

Maimun told newsmen that she did not mind raising RM10,000 to register as a candidate, and the RM5,000 as campaign deposit.

Speaking in a heavy Terengganu accent, she said it was money well spent “because I can talk and want to talk to the people.”

“I want to right the wrongs and bring down the prices of necessities,” she added.

She was also accompanied by her close friends Sinah Ali, 67, and Semah Said, 53, who acted as seconder and proposer respectively.

She will be using her own party name – Party Tanah Melayu Beragama Islam – to contest.