SHAH ALAM - A total of 147 candidates will contest in the Selangor state elections on Aug 12. From these, 44 will be representing Pakatan Harapan (PH), 12 from Barisan Nasional (BN); Perikatan Nasional (PN) (56); Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) (four); Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) (four); Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) (six); Parti Utama Rakyat (PUR) one and 10 Independent candidates. A total of 120 candidates are men while 27 are women, with their ages ranging from 23 to 71.
Upon the completion of nominations at 10am today, 26 of the constituencies will see straight fights, and among those closely watched will be Hulu Kelang where Selangor PN chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali will face the Selangor Menteri Besar’s political secretary, Juwairiya Zulkifli.
In Sijangkang, BN’s Mohd Al-Hafizi Abu Bakar will be up against three-term incumbent and Selangor Pas Commissioner Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi.
Five state constituencies will see four-cornered fights, namely Kuala Kubu Baharu, Pandan Indah, Seri Setia, Sentosa and Dengkil. There will be three-cornered fights in 25 seats, Sungai Tua among them where Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari faces challenges from PN candidate Muhammad Hanif Jamaluddin, who is Selangor Pas Youth secretary, and Independent candidate G.Shuman. In Gombak Setia, the three-cornered fight will involve Selangor Umno chief Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, Muhammad Hilman Idham (PN) and Mohamed Salim Mohamed Ali (Independent ).
The atmosphere during nominations for the state seats under the Gombak parliamentary constituency was among the most lively and colourful with the presence of party supporters and leaders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor and PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The oldest candidate in Selangor this time around is PN’s Selat Klang incumbent, Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, 71, while Melanie Ting Yi-Hlin (Muda), who is contesting in Bukit Antarabangsa, is the youngest at 23. The Election Commission has set the state elections in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah as well as the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election to be held simultaneously on Aug 12, with early voting on Aug 8. - BERNAMA