Perikatan’s ex-footballer turned candidate focuses on youth progress
KLUANG: Mohamad Haizan Jaafar has been many things in his life – a football star, a coach and a businessman. Now, he is gunning to be a state assemblyman.
The former Johor state player has been named as the Perikatan Nasional candidate for the Mahkota by-election on Sept 28.
The 61-year-old, born in Layang-Layang here, is called “coach” by the locals as he has trained various football teams, especially the Kluang team, and actively engaged with youth and the community there.
“About five years ago, I found my other calling of doing social work and decided to enter politics.
“During the Covid-19 period, I was involved in helping the less privileged and from there, I realised there were many communities who required attention and help,” said the father of three.
Social welfare and youth development are topics close to his heart.
“These will feature prominently in my upcoming campaign for Mahkota,” he said.
The Kluang Bersatu division committee member feels the constituency has potential for development, especially in producing young talent.
“This is my first time contesting in an election and I hope to engage with as many constituents as possible during the two-week campaigning period.
“However, I feel such engagement should not just be limited to this period. I’ve always been close with the local communities such as the Kluang zone Rukun Tetangga,” he said with a smile.
Soon, voters in the area will be seeing campaign materials with the name “Coach Haizan” on them.
“It’s a name that is familiar to those who know me,” he added.
On Tuesday night, Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced Mohamad Haizan as the coalition’s candidate for the by-election.
Hamzah said he was chosen for his vast experience in sports, discipline as well as active engagement with youth and the community.
Mohamad Haizan played for Johor from 1982 until 1989 before moving to teams like Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan.
Off the field, he is also a businessman in the food and beverage industry.
Last Saturday, Barisan Nasional announced Kluang Umno Youth chief Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah as its candidate for the Mahkota seat.
The state by-election was called after the death of Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, on Aug 2.
The then Kluang Wanita Umno chief had won the seat in the 2022 state election with a majority of 5,166 votes, defeating candidates from Perikatan, Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan.
Nomination and early polling for the by-election are slated for this Saturday and Sept 24 respectively.
