KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional's candidate for the Kemaman by-election could possibly propel the coalition to wrestle back the parliamentary seat.
Political analyst Dr Ainul Adzellie Hasnul said that Umno - a component of Barisan Nasional, stood a chance to win the seat in the upcoming by-election with its candidate, ex-Chief of Defence Forces General (R) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Rajai Mohamed Noor.
"By fielding a national figure, BN is seen as serious in winning the seat.
"This 'new face' indicates that BN is giving a chance to an 'outsider' in representing the party.
"In a way, it could translate to more votes even though Kemaman is a Perikatan Nasional (PN) seat, but BN will give a tough fight where a different outcome might happen this time around."
He also said that Raja Affandi's candidacy for the by-election also heralds a 'fresh start' for BN in Terengganu considering they had lost all seats in the last general election and also the state elections.
Another political analyst, International Islamic University Malaysia associate professor Dr Syaza Farhana Mohamad Shukri said BN's choice of candidate for Kemaman could bring in more votes but casts her doubt on whether it could lead to victory for the coalition.
"The demographic shift has been in PN's favour for at least two terms, BN knows that and that is why they put up a very strong contender.
"Fielding a candidate with such a calibre could bring more votes for BN, but understanding the sentiment right now, I don't think it could move a lot of votes.
"It however shows how serious BN is even when people were saying 'no point' in having this election."
Yesterday, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi named Raja Affandi as the direct candidate to contest the upcoming Kemaman by-election.
He said the decision to place a candidate outside of Umno's hierarchy was reached through a consensus among Umno and BN leaders.
He also said Raja Affandi's decision to step forward as a BN candidate is seen as a gesture of the support received from the party and given back to the constituents of Kemaman.
The Election Commission (EC) had earlier fixed Dec 2 as polling day for the Kemaman parliamentary seat by-election in Terengganu. The commission also set Nov 18 as nomination day and Nov 28 for early voting.
This is following the Terengganu Election Court's decision to annul Che Alias Hamid's victory in Kemaman in the 15th General Elections after judge Datuk Anselm Charles Fernandis said the petitioner, voter Wan Mohamad Hisham Wan Abdul Jalil, succeeded in proving that corruption had taken place intending to influence voters in GE15.