GE15: Six to contest for Setiawangsa parliamentary seat

KUALA LUMPUR: Stadium Titiwangsa was bathed in red and blue as Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional supporters turned up in droves to support their respective candidates for the 15th General Election (GE15).

Incumbent Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who arrived with his wife and son, were cheered by supporters at the nomination centre on Saturday morning (Nov 5).

"Thank you to all who came to give support for me to be nominated once again in this parliamentary seat," he wrote on Facebook after the nomination.

The PKR vice president and Setiawangsa division chief was seeking re-election in a six-corner fight in GE15.

Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Seri Izudin Ishak, like his peers elsewhere, arrived in a blue baju melayu, marching with his supporters.

"Let us all come together and achieve victory for Barisan," he said, while thanking those who were cheering for him.

Joining the fray was Perikatan Nasional’s Nurul Fadzilah Kamaluddin, who is also Bersatu young women’s chief, who arrived in a ruby red modern baju kurung.

In GE14, Nik Nazmi beat then Barisan candidate Tan Sri Zulhasnan Rafique with some 14,000-vote majority.

His victory ended Barisan grip on the constituency, whose winning majority had been on steady decline for three consecutive terms.

Approximately 60% of voters in Setiawangsa are Malays, while Chinese and Indians make up about 25% and 15%, respectively.

The nomination on Saturday also saw Pejuang, like Perikatan, making its political debut in Setiawangsa.

Its candidate was Bibi Sunita Sakandar Khan, who is also a PhD candidate in political science from the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

There were also two independent candidates, namely Stanley Lim Yen Tiong and Mior Rosli.