PETALING JAYA – The recently concluded state polls were colourful and unique for many reasons. While celebrities seeking public office is not new, not many have found success. Previously, Dira Abu Zahar became the first actress to be elected as an assemblyman when she won the Rim seat in Melaka in the state’s 2021 election.
One rapper defied the odds to win with a rather handsome majority, and made history by becoming the first singer-composer to sit in a state assembly.
Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman, better known as Altimet, is a rapper known for hits such as Kalau Aku Kaya, Amboi and Bangkit. The 44-year-old ran on the Pakatan Harapan (PH) ticket in Lembah Jaya, Selangor and defeated his Perikatan Nasional (PN) opponent by 6,678 votes.
Meanwhile, fledgling party Muda crashed and burned at the polls after venturing in with 19 candidates. All of them ended up losing their deposits, including the youngest candidate in all six states, Melanie Ting.
At 23, Ting was a candidate in Bukit Antarabangsa, Selangor but she only managed to garner 1,462 votes.
As for the oldest candidate, according to the Election Commission’s (EC) data, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s (PRM) Ravinder Singh, 80, only came away with 76 votes.
Another Muda candidate, Abe Lim, who was dubbed “most beautiful” by social media users, also failed to recover her deposit, managing only 2,496 votes in Bandar Utama, Selangor.
Independent candidate Ang Wei Yang was apparently crowned “most handsome” on social media. He contested in Banting but also lost his deposit after securing only 1,439 votes.
As for political families continuing their legacies, Tan Sri Noh Omar’s daughter Nurul Syazwani Noh won the Permatang state seat in Selangor for PN.
In Negri Sembilan, veteran Umno leader Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad’s wife Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza won in Juasseh but his son Mohd Najib Isa crashed in Bagan Pinang. Both contested under Barisan Nasional.
Tan Sri Rais Yatim’s son, Danni Rais, who contested under PN, also came short, losing the Klawang seat to PH’s Bakri Sawir by 577 votes. – The Vibes, August 14, 2023
