KUALA TERENGGANU, Malaysia: An 89-year-old grandmother stole the thunder from prominent politicians after she was officially announced as an independent candidate for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat.

Possibly the oldest candidate in the 12th general election, Maimun Yusuf caught the attention of newsmen and big political guns during nomination day on Sunday.

The divorced grandmother of seven said she had attempted to stand for elections four times previously, but didn't qualify because of technicalities and a lack of documentation.

Maimun will be facing seasoned politicians such as PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu and Barisan Nasional's Datuk Razali Ismail.

The two veteran politicians took the time to chat with Maimun, who appeared frail but zesty when approached by the duo.

Even Batu Burok BN candidate Nordiana Shafie wished Maimun well in the March 8 polls.

Maimun, who was dressed in a black headscarf and red baju kurung (traditional Malay outfit) told the press that she did not mind spending RM10,000 to register as a candidate.

This was in addition to the RM5,000 campaign deposit she had to fork out.

"It's money well spent because I 'boleh cakap dan mahu cakap' (can talk and want to speak to the people)," said the resident of Kampung Pengadang Akar who runs a kain songket (traditional clothe) business.

"I want to right the wrongs and bring down the price of essentials," she said in her thick Terengganu Malay accent. She was accompanied to the nomination centre by her close friends Sinah Ali, 67, and Semah Said, 53, who acted as seconder and proposer respectively.