Datuk Seri Eizlan Yusof (left) and Dr Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri are contesting in the 15th General Election. Photos: Filepic/The Star
Malaysia’s celebrities, social media influencers and activists are among the candidates contesting in the 15th General Election (GE15), adding colour to the polls.
They are among the 945 individuals who will contest 222 parliamentary seats alongside familiar faces in the arena of political competition.
Among those stealing the spotlight is film director Dr Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri who will contest the Port Dickson parliamentary seat representing Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) against social activist Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah, popularly known as "ayahanda" (father), who is contesting as an Independent candidate.
Also attracting attention is actor Datuk Seri Eizlan Yusof, who is contesting for the first time on a GTA ticket in the Sabak Bernam parliamentary seat, facing a four-cornered fight against challengers from Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH).
In addition to Ahmad Idham and Eizlan, actor and activist Azlan Sani ‘Lando’ Zawawi will represent GTA in the Tanjong Karang parliamentary seat, making it a five-cornered tussle.
Besides that, the Batu Parliamentary seat, which has the most Independent candidates contesting out of the total of 10 candidates, is also lined up with social media influencer "Cleopatra" or Nur Fathiah Syazwan Shaharudin and lawyer-activist Siti Zabedah Kasim or Siti Kasim.
Producer and director Datuk Jurey Latiff Mohd Rosli is contesting in the Lenggong parliamentary seat on a PH ticket, while Professional Film Workers Association of Malaysia (Profima) former president Mohamad Khair Mohd Noor is representing Parti Warisan to contest the Bintong state seat in Perlis.
The involvement of celebrities in local politics is not an entirely foreign phenomenon as movie stars have the capability to run a country such as the United States 40th president Ronald Reagan, who started out as a Hollywood actor.
Reagan, who died in 2004, managed to steer the US for two terms from 1981-1989 after winning the election in 1980 when he upstaged Jimmy Carter who only served for one term.
The GE15 campaigning period is set for 14 days starting today until 11.59 pm on Nov 18. The Election Commission has set polling day on Nov 19 and early voting on Nov 15. – Bernama
