GE15: Bigwigs set to clash in Titiwangsa

IT IS going to be a crowded battle for the Titiwangsa parliamentary seat in the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15), with political bigwigs set to clash in the Malay-majority constituency.

Amanah communications director Khalid Abdul Samad, in a text message to StarMetro on Thursday (Oct 20), confirmed that he intended to contest the seat.

In GE12 and GE13, the seat saw a straight fight between Barisan Nasional and PAS, and a three-cornered one in GE14 with Bersatu joining the fray and winning.

Khalid, who had been Shah Alam MP for three consecutive terms, said it was time for him to hand over the seat to a younger candidate.

The person is said to be his political secretary Azli Yusoff, who was also Amanah division chief for Shah Alam in Selangor.

"During my three terms in Shah Alam, we have built a strong base and developed younger leaders.

"(The candidate) was among many who followed me when I left PAS to form Amanah in 2013," he said when contacted.

Asked if Amanah could make inroads since this was its first-time contesting in Titiwangsa, Khalid said this was not an issue.

"In GE13, PAS candidate Ahmad Zamri Asa’ad Khuzaimi contested against Barisan candidate Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

"But Zamri then joined Amanah and is currently the Titiwangsa deputy division leader,” he said, adding this meant Amanah had experience in the area.

Khalid noted that Amanah entrusted him to capture the seat, after considering his experience as the Federal Territories Minister under then Pakatan Harapan government.

"As a party man, I will go where I am directed and will do my best to secure a victory," he added.

On Oct 15, StarMetro reported that Johari was Umno’s likely candidate for the constituency in the upcoming election.

The incumbent MP Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Haron, meanwhile, had yet to confirm if she would defend.

Rumours were rife that Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal would stand there instead, after a banner featuring his image was sighted in Pasar Datuk Keramat in recent weeks.

PAS also said it would contest the seat, but declined to name the likely candidate, citing that the vetting by the party’s central committee was ongoing.

In GE14, Titiwangsa had about 55,000 registered voters, with additional 20,000 first-timers expected to cast their ballots in GE15.

Roughly two-thirds of the electorate are Malays, from Kampung Datuk Keramat, Kampung Baru and Kampung Pandan.