KUALA LUMPUR – Top Umno and DAP leaders, as well as three menteri besar, will be in straight fights in the August 12 state elections.
Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke will be defending their seats for the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) unity government against Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Mohamad, who is also the defence minister, will be in a straight fight with Rozmal Malakan (PN-PAS) to defend the Rantau state seat. Mohamad has been the incumbent for four terms since 2004.
Loke (PH-DAP), who is also the transport minister, will face Rosmadi Arif (PN-Bersatu) to defend the Chennah seat, which he held since the 2013 general election.
Meanwhile, the three Menteris Besar (MBs) facing a straight fight are Kelantan caretaker menteri besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob (PN-PAS) who is fielded against Zamakh Sari Ibrahim (PH-PKR) in Pasir Pekan, Kedah caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (PN-PAS) against Datuk Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim (PH-BN) in Jeneri, while Terengganu caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar will face Suhaimi Sulaiman (PH-Amanah) in Ru Rendang.
Also facing a straight fight is Penang caretaker chief minister Chow Kon Yeow (PH-DAP) who is challenged by H’ng Khoon Leng (PN-Gerakan), to defend the Padang Kota seat which he has held for three terms since 2008.
Other menteri besar are in multi-cornered fights, such as Selangor caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (PH-PKR) who is facing a three-way contest against Muhammad Hanif Jamaluddin (PN-PAS) and independent candidate Suman Gopal, to defend the Sg Tua seat. Hanif is also PAS Youth wing secretary.
In the 14th general election (GE14), Amirudin, who is also PKR vice president, won with a majority of 11,374 in Sg Tua after defeating three other candidates, from Barisan Nasional (BN), PAS and an independent.
Negri Sembilan caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (PH-PKR) is facing a four-cornered contest to defend the Sikamat seat that he has held since 2008.
He is challenged by Ahmad Raihan Muhamad Hilal (PN-Bersatu) and independent candidates Bujang Abu and Mohammed Hafiz Baharudin.
The 14-day campaign period begins today following the filing of nominations and will end at midnight on August 11.
Meanwhile, Selangor PN chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali faces PH candidate Juwairiya Zulkifli, who is Wanita PKR deputy chief, in the Hulu Kelang seat.
The two political figures are contesting in seats that are new to them in this state election.
Juwairiya was the incumbent for the Bukit Melawati seat while Azmin was former Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman. – The Vibes, July 29, 2023
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