A file picture of Ahmad Idham. - ROHAIZAT MD DARUS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Actor and director Ahmad Idham has no qualms in taking on heavyweights in the coming GE15 for the Port Dickson parliamentary seat.
"Some have asked me whether I am willing to take on the incumbent PKR president or Pakatan Harapan's Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar (Aminuddin Harun).
"I told them that I have nothing to lose because I will be the underdog.
"I am leaving it to the leadership of Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) to decide if I will be selected to contest in Port Dickson," the former National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chief executive officer said when contacted on Sunday (Oct 16).
Acknowledging that he may not be as politically savvy as incumbent Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, he said he had gained exposure while serving the local community in Port Dickson over the past few months.
"It is not just about politics but serving the community.
"I have gone door-to-door to touch base with the community and realise that many are still in need of help," he added.
Ahmad, who founded Pertubuhan Briged Prihatin, said he has been providing help to less fortunate families with special needs children.
Ahmad was recently touted as a possible GTA candidate by Negri Sembilan Pejuang chief Jani Ismail.
Anwar was elected Port Dickson MP in October 2018 when he won the by-election following his royal pardon relating to his prison sentence over a sodomy charge.
There has been talk that Anwar may give up his seat to Aminuddin in the coming general election and contest elsewhere.
Among the seats mentioned is the Tambun parliamentary seat in Perak.
Prior to Port Dickson, Anwar held the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in Penang for five terms between 1982 and 2015.
Ahmad said that he would also be relying on social media to reach out to young first-time voters.
"I have been an actor and director for 25 years and social media is my forte," he said.
However, he said that relying on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to attract attention is insufficient to garner votes.
"You must be able to catch the interest of the youth and win over their trust," he said.
If successful in the polls, Ahmad said he intends to develop Port Dickson as an education hub for special needs children while also promoting the area as a local tourist destination.
GTA, consisting of four political parties, namely Pejuang, Putra, the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman) and Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa), was set up by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in August.
It also includes non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academicians and individuals.
The coalition intends to contest in over 120 seats in the coming polls under the Pejuang banner with the exception of Kelantan and Terengganu.
