Amanah Youth may run as independents if denied contest

REMBAU - Amanah Youth Negeri Sembilan did not rule out the possibility of sending their candidate to run as an independent in the Kota state legislative assembly if the party leadership did not accept their desire to run there.

Amanah Negeri Sembilan Youth vice head, Ahmad Shukri Kamaruddin said for now they are still waiting for a letter from the party to nominate the former state legislative assembly coordinator, Muhammad Allif Ibrahim.

"We are still urging the party leadership to send a youth candidate to contest there and we are confident that the party will listen to us.

"Anyway, Amanah youth were not given any seats in Parliament in the 15th General Election and we should not be left out this time again," he told Sinar on Friday.

According to him, based on a survey of voters and the local leadership of Kota state assembly, many are expecting Muhammad Allif to be their candidate.

This is because he has shown a good track record as state assembly coordinator and has more clout than the featured Umno candidates, he explained.

"Even if we run as an independent, the percentage of us winning is still high. We are not simply sending a candidate to be popular, but to relay the voice of the voting grassroots in Kota.

"Some Umno branches have also voiced out that they too want Muhammad Allif as a candidate," he said.

In fact, he added, they are also ready to face action from the party due to their insistence on competing there.

Sinar previously reported Amanah Youth's decision to run in the Kota state assembly to ensure that the party remains in the running for three state assembly seats in Negeri Sembilan.

This is because the Lenggeng state seat that belonged to the party previously was given to Barisan Nasional (BN).

Prior to this, BN-Umno announced Rembau Divisional Committee Member Suhaimi Aini as the Kota state assembly candidate to replace Datuk Seri Awaludin Said.