[UPDATED] Siti Kasim among independents to run in GE15

KUALA LUMPUR – Activists such as lawyer Siti Kasim, Mohd Tawfik Ismail and KJ John are among the 10 names under the Gerak Independent (GI) movement slated to contest in the 15th general election (GE15).

In a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here today, five candidates unveiled the parliamentary constituencies that they will be vying for.

Siti is expected to run in Batu, while KJ John takes on Petaling Jaya and Raveentheran Suntheralingam eyes Wangsa Maju. 

Lawyer Charles Chow aims to contest for the Subang seat. 

The aforementioned four seats are currently held by PKR.

In addition, Roland Cheng will aim to wrest the Kota Kinabalu seat from DAP. 

Meanwhile, former Sg Benut MP Mohd Tawfik Ismail declined to reveal his selected constituency.

Instead, he named Langkawi, Pagoh, Ampang, Simpang Renggam, Pontian, and Mersing as possible choices.

Other seats identified by the movement are Bandar Tun Razak, Gombak, Segamat, Tebrau, Batu Pahat, Sandakan and Batu Sapi, totalling 15 parliamentary constituencies. 

The list of candidates has yet to be finalised, as the vetting process is ongoing.

Siti said the movement is committed to fielding diverse candidates from various backgrounds. 

Denying that candidates had intentionally targeted seats currently occupied by Pakatan Harapan, she said the seats had been chosen because they were in “low performance” areas. 

“The seats we are going for are the ones where our MPs are not performing the duties they are supposed to, such as failing to push for legislation that will make the nation better,” she said, adding that a mindset shift is needed to facilitate change in the country. 

“Political parties do not work in Malaysia, as party members will only follow what their bosses say. We need people who speak out and voice the concerns of our citizens without being told by anyone what and who to vote for in Parliament.”

She added that while plenty of non-government organisations in Malaysia are making strides, an independent presence in Parliament is necessary to leave a lasting impact and foster positive development. 

Commenting on the possibility of working with other parties, Siti said that while GI is open to collaborating with like minded parties, candidates are also not obliged to follow the policies of the parties. 

“We are willing to work together so that the greater good can be achieved at the end of the day, but we will still be independent,” she said, mentioning that as of now, the movement has had talks with Warisan, Muda and DAP. 

When asked if GI will one day be established as a political party, she said no such plans are currently in place, but she is not closed off to the option. 

“Whether we are a party or a movement, we will still stand by our principles and uphold our commitment to bettering the nation through our stance against ills such as corruption and bribery.”

Meanwhile, Tawfik, who is the eldest son of the late Tun Ismail Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s second deputy prime minister, took aim at Umno over its “irresponsible” decision to call for a state election in Johor. 

“Umno died in 1987. It was killed off, and what is left of it now is an artificial identity that does not represent Malaysia. 

“By calling for a state election amidst a global pandemic, they (Umno) are jeopardising the health and wellness of the very people they claim to represent,” he said. 

He also referenced the alleged unilateral conversion of Loh Siew Hong’s three children by Perlis religious authorities. 

“How many MPs have voiced out on the matter and spoken out on behalf of this mother? Their silence tells us a lot about the quality of the MPs we have now.” 

He added that he aims to appeal to Malay voters, as they have been “led astray by parties such as Umno and PAS that are pretending to be something they are not.” – The Vibes, February 17, 2022