KUALA LUMPUR – Following the completion of the nomination process for the upcoming elections for six state assemblies, attention is now focused on about 30 seats considered to be hotly contested due to the clash of prominent figures, coupled with various issues and controversies.
Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan, and Terengganu have become battlegrounds between the union of the two major coalitions, Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, who rule the country in a PH-BN alliance, and national opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) which previously led the administrations of Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu.
In Selangor, the spotlight falls on three state seats in the Gombak parliamentary area – Hulu Kelang, Gombak Setia, and Sg Tua.
These constituencies have become the epicentres of the electoral contest, witnessing prominent figures from PN and PH-BN locking horns.
For the Hulu Kelang seat, Selangor PN chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali will be facing a challenge from his former protégé Juwairiya Zulkifli, who is representing PH. Juwairiya also serves as the political secretary to caretaker Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Amirudin himself will face a three-cornered contest in his bid to defend the Sg Tua seat, going up against PAS Youth council secretary Muhammad Hanif Jamaluddin and independent candidate G. Suman.
Meanwhile, defeat in the 15th general election last November has not dampened the spirits of Datuk Seri Rina Harun, a former women, family, and community development minister and PN women’s chief. She faces PH candidate Danial Al-Rashid and Muda’s Cheda Razak in the race for the Batu Tiga seat.
Penang, Kedah party chiefs face daunting fights
In Penang, caretaker chief minister and state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow faces a one-on-one battle to defend the Padang Kota seat against PN candidate H’ng Khoon Leng.
Former housing and local government minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican from BN will try his luck in Bertam, challenging PN candidate Khaliq Mehtab.
PN deputy chairman and Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau is contesting in Bayan Lepas against PH candidate Mahathir Aziz.
He faces an acid test here as the local PAS leaders had reportedly refused to join the nomination procession. Their absence and closure of the operations room signal a challenge for Lau, as they desired a Malay candidate to contest the constituency, which has a 64% Malay voter base.
In Kedah, state PH chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar faces a rematch with Kedah football legend Radhi Mat Din, who is representing PN in the fight for Alor Mengkudu. They previously clashed in the 2018 general election in Pokok Sena, where Mahfuz emerged victorious with a majority of 5,558 votes.
High-profile figures in tough races elsewhere
In Negri Sembilan, all eyes are on the Sikamat seat, where caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun is facing a five-cornered fight with PN candidate Raihan Hilal, and two independent candidates, Bujang Abu and Mohammed Hafiz.
In the Rantau seat, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is also Umno deputy president, is defending the seat in a one-on-one contest against PN candidate Rozmal Malakan.
Meanwhile, incumbent Ampangan representative Datuk Mohamad Rafie Ab Malek, who was not nominated by PH this time, is contesting as an independent candidate against PH’s Tengku Zamrah Tengku Sulaiman and PN’s Muhammad Ghazali Zainal Abidin.
In Kelantan, all attention is on Pasir Pekan, which has been held for six terms by caretaker Kelantan menteri besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob Ahmad, who is contesting for the seventh and final term against PH candidate Mohamad Zaman Sahri Ibrahim.
In Terengganu, the spotlight is on Kijal, where incumbent Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, the state BN chairman and a former menteri besar, is challenged by state Bersatu chief Datuk Razali Idris.
With these high-profile battles and dynamic confrontations, the state elections are shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle of political ambition and fervour, as each candidate seeks to win the hearts of the electorate and secure victory in these critical constituencies. – The Vibes, July 31, 2023
