JOHOR BARU: Muda has named first-timer Rashifa Aljunied as its candidate to defend the party’s Puteri Wangsa state seat in Johor.
Party president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz, who is the incumbent for the seat, said Rashifa has a strong track record as Muda’s service centre chief officer.
She said the 26-year-old, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in International and Strategic Studies from Universiti Malaya, is also a member of the party’s Central Executive Committee.
Amira Aisya won the Puteri Wangsa seat with a 7,114-vote majority in a six-cornered fight in the 2022 state election.
As for her political plans, she hinted that she might contest a parliamentary seat in the next general election, likely in Johor Baru including Tebrau.
“After serving for the last four years, I realised that there are many issues that fall under Parliament’s jurisdiction,” she said, citing overcrowded schools and healthcare-related matters.
“As such, we feel that it is important for us to be in Parliament so that we can bring the voices of voters and serve them as best we can.”
Speaking to reporters, Rashifa said she was unfazed by the multi-cornered fight she is expected to face in defending the seat.
“I understand that Puteri Wangsa is a hot seat that is also being eyed by other parties, but I am prepared.
“It does not really matter to me how many corners this seat will have or what other parties do,” she said.
“My campaign will focus on what I have heard and seen through my service here over the last few years, and on bringing the voices of more than 270,000 residents, including 115,000 voters, in the constituency.”
On other candidates, Muda election director for the Johor polls Rasid Abu Bakar said more names would be announced at the party’s fundraising event in Kuala Lumpur today.
“The number of seats we will be contesting will not be far from what we had announced earlier, which is between five and 10 seats,” he said.
The Johor state assembly was dissolved on June 1.
The Election Commission has set July 11 as polling day, with nomination day on June 27 and early voting on July 7.
