Bibi Sharliza back in action after 15-year hiatus

PORT DICKSON: Umno’s Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid (pic) is back in the thick of political action after a 15-year hiatus when she was elected the Juasseh assemblyman in Negri Sembilan.

This time, however, the former Paroi assemblyman from 2004 to 2008 had to battle hard for victory.Winning by a razor-thin 78 votes against Perikatan Nasional bigwig Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith, the Juasseh state seat was the closest fought among all seats contested in Negri Sembilan.

The tight fight saw both Bibi Sharliza and Eddin Syazlee trading the lead several times during vote counting, before she finally obtained 4,549 votes to Eddin Syazlee’s 4,471.

Bibi Sharliza was a former secretary for Puteri Umno at the national level as well as the first Negri Sembilan Puteri Umno chief from 2001 to 2004. “Razor thin or not, a win is a win. It was a tough fight for a hot seat.

“My team, as well as the Juasseh and Kuala Pilah Umno Wanita divisions, did very good work. I will continue to serve Juasseh as I mentioned in my manifesto,” she said when contacted.

On her next course of action, Bibi Sharliza, 52, said she would be carrying out the initiatives mentioned in her manifesto, which includes infrastructure development through widening digital connectivity and uplifting those in rural areas, as well as initiatives to empower the Orang Asli, youths, women and senior citizen communities in Juasseh.

On her winning margin in an area which is considered to be a Barisan stronghold, Bibi Sharliza said both Barisan and Perikatan shared “the same set of voters”.

“Barisan’s track record to serve the people is undeniable. We will come back stronger.

“On the flip side, Barisan and its unity government ally (Pakatan Harapan) made a clean sweep of all the seats it contested in Kuala Pilah,” she said, referring to Barisan and Pakatan winning Seri Menanti, Senaling, Pilah and Johol seats under the Kuala Pilah parliamentary constituency.

Bibi Sharliza is the wife of former Negri Sembilan mentri besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.