SG PETANI – Pakatan Harapan (PH) has announced former graft-buster Latipah Md Yatim as its parliamentary candidate for the Sik seat in the 15th general election (GE15).
Running under the Amanah banner, Latipah is believed to be the first retired officer from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to contest in a federal election.
The former MACC deputy commissioner, who headed the agency’s integrity division, is likely to take on Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor of PAS, who is the incumbent at the rural constituency.
Laitpah had also previously served as MACC’s state director of Penang and also Sabah.
With her reputation for sternness, Latipah is renowned as a no-nonsense officer in MACC with wide experience in many high-profile case files, including those against Umno leaders and civil servants.
Former MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad is also touted as a candidate for the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary seat in Penang.
He was reported in May to have said that he did not rule out such a prospect if the people of Tasek Gelugor asked him to contest.
Dzulkifli, 54, was appointed MACC chief commissioner in August 2016, replacing Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, who was posted as an integrity consultant at the law faculty of Universiti Teknologi Mara.
It is understood that Dzulkifli, who was born in Kepala Batas, has held various community programmes over the past few months around Tasek Gelugor – the area he grew up in.
Meanwhile, Kedah PH chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar, who was also selected to defend his Pokok Sena seat, said that he expects Latipah to give the other candidates a run for their money, as she is a symbol of PH’s move to curb corruption at all levels.
Mahfuz, who played a role in recruiting the Kedah-born anti-corruption crusader, said that her election would serve as a deterrent to those bent on committing graft.
Despite heavy rain last night at Bandar Laguna, which resulted in a small turnout for the event unveiling the coalition’s candidates in the state, Mahfuz expressed confidence that the 15 PH choices could fare well.
He said voters here share the same exasperation as their counterparts in other states.
“I think the people are just fed up with corruption and want change,” said the Amanah man.
Local Amanah members unhappy with switch
All may not be well in Kedah, however, as state Amanah chairman Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi was conspicuously missing from the event.
He could not be reached for comment. It is understood that although Amanah’s national leadership has agreed to give up the Jerai parliamentary seat in Kedah to DAP, the move has triggered strong objections from the state party chapter and local members.
In return, the Alor Gajah federal constituency in Melaka, traditionally contested by DAP prior to the 2018 general election, is to be given to Amanah.
Last night, DAP unveiled its first ever Malay candidate in Kedah when lawyer Zulhazmi Shariff was selected by the PH party to contest in the PAS-Umno stronghold.
The incumbent MP for Jerai is Sabri Azit from PAS.
Another surprise PH hopes to unveil soon is the coalition's candidate for Langkawi, where the incumbent is 98-year-old Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, one of the oldest electoral contestants in the world and two-time prime minister.
Independent Ezam Mohd Noor, a former political aide of PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has voiced his intentions to contest the island constituency.
PH may allow him to contest under its banner.
In Kedah, PH will be represented by PKR with nine candidates, Amanah four, and DAP one, as the Malay heartland state is likely to witness several four to five-cornered fights.
Besides PH, Perikatan Nasional through components PAS and Bersatu is expected to battle Barisan Nasional and upstart coalition Gerakan Tanah Air led by Dr Mahathir’s Pejuang party.
This election also sees the gradual retirement of Kedah PKR chairman Datuk Johari Abdul, who is leaving his Sg Petani seat for his son Taufiq Juhari to contest. – The Vibes, October 30, 2022
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