KUALA LUMPUR – Could Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin be PKR’s choice for Bagan Datuk when nominations for the 15th general election (GE15) are announced on November 5?
Shamsul, who is the incumbent Hang Tuah Jaya MP in Melaka, said he is willing to give up his safe seat to follow his boss, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to Perak and take on Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“If Anwar can go to Tambun, then I feel some of us senior people in the party should also go down to Perak. So, I offered myself for Bagan Datuk,” Shamsul told The Vibes.
Shamsul, 48, is considered a giant killer, having beaten then Melaka chief minister Tun Mohd Ali Rustam in the Bukit Katil parliamentary seat in the 2013 election. He retained the seat, which was renamed Hang Tuah Jaya in 2018.
Anwar had on Thursday announced in Ipoh that he will be leaving Port Dickson to contest in Tambun, which is currently held by Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
This is part of the “Bangkit Perak” or “Rise Perak” strategy for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition to take the silver state.
“Anwar has shown leadership by going to an area that is not considered a safe seat. Others should follow his lead and give up their comfortable seats and take on more formidable seats in this election,” said the former deputy primary industries minister.
Shamsul said he understands the enormous task of unseating Zahid, a local boy who has held Bagan Datuk since 1995.
“Yes, he has been there for a while. He is the Umno president and former deputy prime minister, so I will have my work cut out for me,” said Shamsul, adding that he is under no illusion that he is the underdog in this fight.
With polling day on November 19, Bagan Datuk is a seat to watch, what more with Gerak Independent’s Tawfik Ismail also contesting there on an anti-corruption and integrity manifesto.
“I have tremendous respect for Tawfik and what he represents since his late father (former deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman) was a founding father of Umno and the nation,” said Shamsul.
“However, it will be more prudent to have the backing of an election machinery like the one PKR has if we want to take on an opponent like Zahid,” he said.
Facing corruption charges and the prospect of jail, Zahid’s candidacy has provided his opponents enough ammunition to fire at him during the campaign trail.
There is even speculation that Zahid in fact may make way for his daughter, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid – something the latter has denied.
“Whoever stands, I am going to keep it (the campaign) civil and listen to the concerns of the constituents on both national issues and local problems,” Shamsul added.
In the 14th general election, Zahid retained his seat by a majority of 51.37% against PH’s Pakhrurrazi Arshad and PAS Ata Abdul Muneim Hasan Adli. The current electoral roll sees the number of voters increase from 45,000 to 58,000. – The Vibes, October 21, 2022
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