GE15: Khalid Samad surrendering Shah Alam to younger leaders, may contest in Titiwangsa

PETALING JAYA - Amanah communications director Khalid Samad will not be defending his incumbent parliamentary seat in Shah Alam to make way for younger leaders.

However, he said he most definitely would not give up the seats to any individual which he did not have faith in.

"I have been the MP for Shah Alam for three terms and during these terms we also have developed our second liners.

"I think this is the time for me to make way for the second liners to take over," he told reporters when met after a meeting with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Negotiation Committee at the PKR's Headquarters here, today.

Upon the decision of the party, Khalid said he was likely to contest in the Titiwangsa parliamentary for the 15th General Election (GE15).

"I have to move to another seat if the party wishes and it has been rumored that I will contest in Titiwangsa, but nothing is sure yet until official announcement is made," he said

Khalid said out of 11 MPs, the minimum of five to six seats were from the incumbents which means half of the seats would be represented by new faces.

"Although I will move out from Shah Alam and perhaps move to another seat but basically I am giving up the current (Shah Alam) seat to the younger leaders," he added.

Earlier, Amanah had revealed its decision to nominate Khalid to contest in Titiwangsa seat, which the party described as an extraordinary sacrifice.

Its Elections Director, Datuk Asmuni Awi said the decision to leave Shah Alam was not easy and in the last election, Khalid obtained a majority of 33,849 which showed that his leadership was accepted by all parties.

"Titiwangsa will be a fierce match for Khalid.

“He will risk his excellent record as Federal Territory Minister to ensure that Titiwangsa remains PH's," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Asmuni said many more risky but highly strategic strategies would be taken by PH to ensure that voters across the country go to the polls on November 19 with confidence and form a new Federal government.

"Eliminating corruption will be PH's main determination, providing quality and guaranteed job opportunities to local children is PH's wish, in addition to restoring the country's image through strong political and economic stability is the duty of all Malaysians," he said.

Previously, there were rumours about former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali who might depart from the Gombak parliamentary seat after he helmed it for the past three terms for Shah Alam.

Sources told Sinar Daily that the former Selangor Menteri Besar has received the green light to contest in the Pas-cum-Amanah traditional seat for the 15th General Election (GE15) by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Supreme Council.