KUALA LUMPUR – Political NGO Kuasa has developed a selective election tracker will provide in-depth information on 20 hot seats across the country.
Of those, we found five that are expected to generate interest ahead of the general election.
Gombak
The seat was won by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mohamed Seri Azmin Ali three consecutive times. However, he won under the PKR banner prior to last year’s Sheraton Move that saw the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government and him later defecting to Bersatu.
“There is no reason why PKR will not use Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to defeat incumbent Azmin. While Azmin is a three-term MP, Amirudin is also a three-term assemblyman for Sg Tua (formerly Batu Caves),” Kuasa said in a statement.
Sg Tua is one of the three state seats in the Gombak constituency.
Pagoh
This seat has been held by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin since 1995. In 2018, Muhyiddin won the seat again, and was appointed home minister before his Bersatu party pulled out of the Pakatan Harapan pact during the Sheraton Move.
This saw the formation and rise of Perikatan Nasional (PN), the coalition’s takeover of Putrajaya, and Muhyiddin’s rise to become prime minister.
But Kuasa said the seat may not be safe for the veteran.
“Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s seat is not safe. The 50,000-plus voters have a tough choice to make. He likely faces Pagoh Umno chief Ismail Mohamed again, but under very different circumstances.
“Both Pakatan and Umno voters will oppose him and his 6,000-plus majority may disappear quickly.”
Lembah Pantai
Lembah Pantai has always been a contentious seat. During the 2018 election, incumbent Nurul Izzah Anwar went to contest in Permatang Pauh, leaving Fahmi Fadzil to face Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik and PAS’ Fauzi Abu Bakar.
However, come GE15, Fahmi may not have an easy ride.
“Fahmi Fadzil is likely to face Lembah Pantai Umno chief Ramlan Askolani. Raja Nong Chik after two failed efforts (2013 and 2018) has stepped aside, and therefore a grassroots leader steps up. However, rumours still swirl about Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz being Bersatu’s candidate for the seat,” said Kuasa.
Titiwangsa
Datuk Seri Rina Harun won this seat from BN’s Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani in 2018, where she saw herself becoming Rural Development Minister under PH.
But in 2020, she maintained a cabinet position under PN, by heading the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
Her handling of women and welfare issues has kept her in the spotlight, and Kuasa expects Rina to shy away from the seat given the possibility of a heavyweight match come GE15.
“Women and family minister Rina Harun might shy away from the seat, and let Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal duke it out with former finance minister Johari Abdul Ghani. Pakatan would likely allow Amanah to contest the seat,” Kuasa said.
Larut
Larut was won by Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in 2008 under Umno. He won the seat also in 2018, and became an independent before joining the PH coalition under Bersatu.
In 2020, the seat switched allegiances to PN. But Kuasa expects Umno to wrest this from Bersatu come the next GE.
“Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin is the prized scalp for Umno. Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad is the acting Umno chief for Larut, after Hamzah left Umno to join Bersatu. Deputy division chief Muhammad Amin Zakaria, a two-term assemblyman for Batu Kurau in Larut, would be the ideal candidate to unseat Hamzah. Umno wants to teach Bersatu a lesson,” Kuasa added.
Indera Mahkota
Since 2018, the Indera Mahkota has been the winning prize of Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
Initially a Temerloh MP under Umno, switched his allegiance and stood under PKR’s flag in 2018.
He held the position of foreign minister under PH, before switching sides to Bersatu under Perikatan Nasional, maintaining a cabinet position.
“A solid PKR seat for three terms disrupted by the departure of Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah to Bersatu. Saifuddin will likely defend the seat, but the previous candidates, PAS’ Nasruddin Hasan and Umno’s Johan Mat Sah, lay waiting.
“Whether PAS will give way to either Bersatu or Umno would be critical to decide how the race shapes up. PKR will contest the seat, and probably be tempted to bring back Fauzi Abdul Rahman, the winner in 2013 who had to give way to Saifuddin,” Kuasa said. – The Vibes, April 14, 2021
