Malaysia GE 15

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Battle royale set for Kuala Langat hot seat

KUALA LUMPUR – Parliament’s dissolution on Monday has already set tongues wagging with potential candidates eyeing federal seats nationwide.

In the semi-urban constituency of Kuala Langat, located roughly an hour away from the capital here, a multi-cornered fight is expected to take place for the 15th general election (GE15).

The constituency had 102,406 registered voters in 2018, comprising 71.4% Malay voters, 13.5% (Indian), 12.08% (Chinese) and 3.5% (other ethnicities), including a good number of Orang Asli consisting of the coastal-based Mahmeri tribe and forest-based Temuan tribe.

While incumbent MP Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar won the seat on a PKR ticket with a resounding  17,112-vote majority during the 2018 general election, the former water, land and natural resources minister has since left the party and joined fledgling Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).

PBM, helmed by incumbent Ampang MP Datuk Zuraida Kamarudin, is trying to join the Barisan Nasional (BN) stable – which, if successful, could pave the way for Xavier to defend his seat under its banner.

While the 69-year-old veteran has kept mum about the matter, sources within the Kuala Langat political sphere have said that the former PKR vice-president is keen to defend the seat if the opportunity presents itself.

The challenge for Xavier, nonetheless, lies in gaining enough trust from the voters and the reflection of his groundwork so far due to his departure from PKR under controversial circumstances in 2021.

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