LIKE a thorn among the roses, it is speculated that an Umno man will run against three women in Sepang in the 15th General Election.
The man is likely to be Sepang Umno division chief Noorazli Said, who has been actively meeting the people in recent months.
This included giving out Deepavali goodies in the constituency and organising the Noorazli Said Merdeka Cup Football Festival in August.
When met at the Sepang Umno representative meeting at Kolej Mara Banting, Noorazli declined to comment on the nomination but said the party was hopeful of winning with the increased number of voters.
Rina, the incumbent Titiwangsa MP from Bersatu, has been more visible in Sepang.
“The total number of voters stands at about 166,000, out of which over 60% are Malays, which is good for us,” he said.
The Sepang parliamentary constituency was once an Umno stronghold.
Two general elections ago, it fell to Mohamed Hanipa Maidin who contested under PAS in 2013 and Amanah in 2018.
According to Election Commission figures, the number of voters in Sepang in the 14th General Election was 104,508, with 62.3% of them Malays.
Che Asmah, the Pejuang candidate, has lived in Sepang since 2000.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in his speech at an event in the constituency in June, had expressed his hope to reclaim the Sepang seat.
Other Barisan Nasional component parties, namely Sepang MCA and Sepang MIC, have also been mobilising their election machinery in the constituency.
The three female contenders from Amanah, Bersatu and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) are all leading their respective women’s wings.
A source from Amanah said its Wanita chief Aiman Athirah Sabu would be nominated for the seat.
Noorazli is the probable candidate for Sepang, which was an Umno seat before 2013.
“We believe incumbent Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa may not stand this time,” said the source.
From Bersatu, Srikandi chief Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun looks the likely candidate.
The incumbent Titiwangsa MP has had a more visible presence in Sepang.
From her Facebook posts, her latest activities include overseeing the handing over of rescue boats to the Sepang District Crisis Management Committee in preparation for possible floods.
She had also distributed food baskets to over 800 Indian families in conjunction with Deepavali, and organised an esports competition – the Datuk Seri Rina Harun Cup.
It is speculated that Aiman will replace the incumbent MP from Amanah.
As for Pejuang, a source from the party said Pejuanita chief Datin Paduka Che Asmah Ibrahim was the likely candidate.
“Having lived in Sepang since 2000 and holding top positions at the state and federal levels, Datin Paduka Che Asmah knows the area and its problems very well,” the source said.
According to Che Asmah’s profile, she has vast experience in environmental matters, having served as the Environment Department air and hazardous materials divisions director as well as Selangor Environment Department director before retiring in 2014.
StarMetro has also received word that Barisan Penyatuan Nasional (National Unification Front or BPN) may join the fray in Sepang with Sameon Bero being named as the possible candidate.
