State polls: 138 candidates expected to contest for 56 seats in Selangor

SHAH ALAM: A total of 138 candidates are expected to compete for 56 seats in the Selangor state elections.

The nomination day falls on Saturday (July 29).

Pakatan Harapan, which has been administering the state since 2008, has listed 44 candidates, comprising 20 from PKR, 15 from DAP and nine from Amanah.

Its partner Barisan Nasional has named just 12 candidates, thus giving Pakatan more opportunities to maintain its dominance, especially in areas where the majority of the voters are Malay.

Perikatan Nasional, which consists of three major component parties - Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan - has also announced to field its candidates in all constituencies, with 31 seats by Bersatu, PAS (17) and Gerakan (eight).

The clash between the two coalitions of giant political parties, Pakatan-Barisan and Perikatan is heated up again with the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) led by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman announcing that it would field 14 candidates in Selangor.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), which is working with Muda, has named four candidates for the Kota Damansara, Dengkil, Meru and Kajang seats.

The race is even more interesting with the participation of Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), which is eyeing eight seats with a focus on seats in the Klang District, namely Port Klang, Selat Klang, Sentosa and Pandamaran.

With the announcement by the political parties concerned, the Selangor state election may witness a three-cornered fight for 19 seats, a straight fight for 36 seats and a four-cornered fight for the Sentosa seat involving Pakatan-PKR, Perikatan-Gerakan, Muda and PRM.

Among the seats that may witness a three-cornered fight are Dusun Tua, Bukit Antarabangsa, Bandar Utama, Batu Tiga, Kota Anggerik, Sungai Kandis and Dengkil.

The seats that may witness a straight fight between the country's two main political rivals Barisan-Umno and Perikatan-PAS include Sabak, Sungai Panjang, Hulu Bernam, Batang Kali and Sungai Burong.

Stiff fights are also expected in the contest for the Sungai Tua, Gombak Setia, Hulu Kelang, Lembah Jaya, Semenyih, Kajang, Taman Medan, Sijangkang and Tanjung Sepat seats.

Of all the candidates that have been announced, the focus is definitely on caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who is defending the Sungai Tua seat that he won in 2008.

This time, Amirudin is expected to be challenged in a straight fight by Perikatan’s Muhammad Hanif Jamaluddin.

Another seat of interest is Hulu Kelang, which will see a contest between former Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali - the potential menteri besar candidate if Perikatan wins, and Amirudin’s political secretary Juwairiya Zulkifli, who is the incumbent Bukit Melawati elected representative.

The nomination centres in all six states - Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Negri Sembilan - will open for one hour from 9am to 10am. - Bernama