GE15: record 108 independents set to vie for parliamentary seats

KUALA LUMPUR – A record 108 independent candidates will be contesting parliamentary seats in the looming general election (GE15).

This is far more than the 24 who vied to become MPs in GE14 (in 2018) and 79 in GE13 (in 2013).

In this year’s nationwide polls, the independent candidates comprise those from various backgrounds, including activists, professionals, and those axed as candidates by their parties – among them are former Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, and Padang Besar incumbent Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.

Batu’s 10-way tussle sees the highest number of independent candidates with four: Tian Chua; lawyer Siti Zabedah Kasim, who is also known as Siti Kassim; social media influencer Nur Fathiah Syazwan Shaharudin or more popularly known as Cleopatra; and Too Cheng Huat.

The three independents trying their luck in the Ampang parliamentary constituency are M. Raveendran, Muhammad Syafiq Izwan Mohd Yunos, and Tan Hua Meng while the three contesting to be Kota Raja MP are K. Kumar, P. Raveetharan, and S. Surendhar.  

Three independent candidates each are also contesting the parliamentary seats of Bangi (Jamal Hisham Hashim, Muhammad Fauzi Hasim, and M. Suthan); Taiping (M. Mohganan, Dr A. Rama Moorthy, and Leow Thye Yih); Sg Siput (N. Rajah, R. Indrani, and Baharudin Kamarudin); Sandakan (Lita Tan Abdullah, Lokeman Hazli Azali, and Hu Chang Lik @ Hii Chang Lik); and Kanowit (Elli Luhat, Chen Nguk Fa, and Michael Lias).

Politics and international relations analyst from Universiti Utara Malaysia Prof Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani feels that the independent candidates can win if they have something to offer other than the support of any political party.

Citing P. Prabakaran’s win in Batu in GE14 with the support of Pakatan Harapan (PH), Azizuddin believes that any independent candidate using the same strategy has a chance to become an MP.

“These independent candidates, if they are local leaders who are well known, stand a chance to win. This was proven in GE14 when three independent candidates won the parliamentary seats in Batu, Julau, and Lubok Antu.

“However, there are independent candidates ‘planted’ to split the votes for other political parties contesting the seat, thus affecting the majority and overall result on polling day,” he said. 

Besides Prabakaran, the other two independents who won parliamentary seats in GE14 were Datuk Larry Sng in Julau and Jugah Muyang in Lubok Antu.

In GE15, all three of them will be defending their respective seats, with Prabakaran representing PKR on PH’s ticket, Sng contesting for Parti Bangsa Malaysia, and Jugah representing Perikatan Nasional.

The Election Commission has set November 19 for polling and November 15 for early voting. – Bernama, November 5, 2022