KUALA LUMPUR – Young candidates contesting in the 15th general election (GE15) have expressed their intention to fight for the voices and aspirations of the youth, in addition to solving issues in their respective constituencies, if elected as their representatives.
This includes Fathin Amelina Fazlie, 28, Pakatan Harapan’s PKR candidate for the Arau parliamentary seat, who said she will focus on education, living standards, and local economic development ideas to change the fate of the people, especially the B40 group which mostly comprises fishermen and farmers.
“I am running in the name of Allah and want to serve the less fortunate, especially women, farmers, fishermen, and students who are facing financial issues. I also aspire to bring change to the Perlis economy.
“As a newcomer, I realise that voters and veteran politicians lack faith in the credibility of young candidates, but I am mentally and physically prepared to fight for the future of the state’s people,” she said.
Fathin Amelia will be involved in a three-cornered fight involving two big names, corporate figure Datuk Rozabil Abdul Rahman (Barisan Nasional) and Arau incumbent Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Perikatan Nasional-PAS).
In Kedah, PH’s Sg Petani candidate Mohamed Taufiq Johari, 26, is eager to defend the constituency seat previously held by his father, Datuk Johari Abdul, for three terms.
He said that he will focus on several issues in Sg Petani such as water supply problems, traffic congestion, boosting the local tourism industry, and youth economic empowerment.
“Sg Petani has all it takes to become a developed area. All it needs is the right person to make it successful,” he said today.
Taufiq will be up against BN’s Datuk Shahanim Mohamad Yusoff, Datuk Marzuki Yahya (GTA-Pejuang), Robert Ling Kui Ee (PN-Bersatu), and Tan Chow Kang @ Tan Joon Long (Parti Rakyat Malaysia).
In Terengganu, BN’s candidate for Dungun, Nurhisam Johari, 40, said that his mission is to bring reform to the area if given the people’s mandate on November 19.
“I want to bring reforms to Dungun, as it has had representatives from the other side for a long time. I have also received complaints from young people about the lack of job opportunities in Dungun, coupled with the high cost of living and so on.
“We have a strategy to help young people, and they (young people) want to see what BN has to offer. So far, I can’t make any promises. We need to see the federal BN manifesto first. I want to coordinate what can be offered to the people of Dungun based on the BN manifesto later,” he said.
Nurhisam will face Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli from PN-PAS, Datuk Mohd Johari Mohamad (PH-PKR), Noraisah Hasan (Pejuang), and Ghazali Ismail (independent).
Meanwhile in Kuala Terengganu, PAS state information chief Hishamuddin Abd Karim denied claims that the party has sidelined young people as candidates to contest the state’s seven parliamentary seats in this election, instead highlighting those who are experienced, professional, and energetic.
Hishamuddin said that this is because the chances of young people from the state being highlighted as candidates are still bright, including in the state election that will be held later.
“Young people need to be trained and given a role at the state level first. At the national administrative level, to portray the seriousness of PAS, we will field experienced, energetic, and clean MPs,” he said at a press conference here today. – Bernama, November 6, 2022
