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JOHOR BARU – Incumbent Pulai MP Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub looks forward to renewing his battle with Umno’s Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed for the parliamentary seat here, with the two set to lock horns again in the 15th general election.
Speaking to the press after the closing of candidate nomination at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim here, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin said he and Nur Jazlan are well known by the constituents.
“We were expecting a five- or six-cornered contest here with names like Deepak (Jaikishan) but in the end, it is just a three-cornered contest.
“I believe that Pulai folk are familiar with us. This will be the third time we take on each other here,” said Salahuddin, who is also Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief.
He added that he has done his level best in serving the constituency in the last four years and is leaving it to the rakyat to decide whether to retain him as their MP.
Meanwhile, Nur Jazlan said it is Umno’s decision to retain him as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate in Pulai, despite losing to Salahuddin in the previous election.
“I’m not contesting to benefit myself. This is for the party as I have indicated that I was not keen on contesting. However, I have been instructed to contest by the party last week so I’ll abide by the party’s decision.”
Nur Jazlan, who held the Pulai seat for three terms between 2004 and 2018, said that BN is serious in its bid to recapture the seat from PH to solidify the coalition’s position in the Dewan Rakyat.
While conceding that there are never any easy battles when it comes to elections, Nur Jazlan said BN has the upper hand this time around, pointing toward the sentiment on the ground with regard to the current political landscape.
“I feel that this election is not as heated compared to 2018 and I believe that BN will benefit from this, coupled with the fact that it will be a three-corner contest here.”
Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) candidate Loh Kah Yong said while he was shocked by the last-minute nomination from Gerakan to contest in Pulai, he is ready to fight it out with Salahuddin and Nur Jazlan.
“We will work hard. We hope the Pulai constituents will give PN a chance to form a government with integrity and stability.”
In the 2018 general election, Salahuddin emerged as the winner of a three-cornered contest involving Nur Jazlan and independent candidate Yap Keng Tak. – The Vibes, November 5, 2022
