KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari is confident of prevailing in the hotly contested battle for the Sg Tua seat in Selangor.
The caretaker menteri besar’s chances of retaining the seat are said to be considered bright, given his successful track record of winning the area for three consecutive terms since his initial victory in 2008. His incumbency and his position as menteri besar have also lent him a considerable advantage in the polls.
However, Amirudin will not face an easy ride, as he is in a three-cornered fight against Hanif Jamaluddin, who is the PAS youth wing secretary under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner, and Suman Gopal, an independent candidate. Suman had previously contested against Amirudin and a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate during the 13th general election for the Batu Caves state seat then.
The post-GE15 political landscape and developments in the country have shown signs of change, particularly with the resurgence of the green wave. Additionally, the presence of young voters following the implementation of Undi18 is expected to impact Amirudin’s chances.
He scored a significant victory in the 2018 general election, where he secured a majority of 11,374 votes, defeating three other challengers.
Despite the challenges this time around, Amirudin remains confident in garnering the support of the majority of voters, thanks to his 15 years of dedicated service as the representative in Sg Tua. He acknowledged the importance of reaching out to young voters, who may be unfamiliar with the local situation.
“Due to my 15-year tenure as the assemblyman for Sg Tua, I may have a slight advantage as the constituents are familiar with me. However, among the young voters, they might be new to the area and may not be fully aware of the local situation,” Amirudin said during a press conference today in Sepang.
He emphasised the need to double his campaign efforts to garner support from voters of all age groups, particularly among the youth. He also expressed his commitment to working tirelessly during the campaign period and providing assistance to his fellow candidates.
“Campaign efforts will be intensified, and we remain confident in getting the support. However, we must not take things for granted and be comfortable. At the same time, I will also be assisting our fellow candidates. Tonight, I will be present in Semenyih, Rawang, and Templer,” he added. – The Vibes, August 1, 2023
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