Malaysia GE 15

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PN names Rina Harun for Sepang seat

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu Wanita chief Rina Harun is to contest the Sepang parliamentary seat against her Amanah counterpart in the general election next month.

Her candidacy was announced by party president, Muhyiddin Yassin tonight. “Rina Harun is our candidate in Sepang. It is confirmed,” said Muhyiddin.

Yesterday, Amanah announced that Aiman Athirah Sabu would be contesting the seat, which was won by Hanipa Maidin in 2013 and 2018.

The announcement confirms earlier reports that Rina would be moved from Titiwangsa, where she had won in 2018.

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‘BN’s Arau ops closed’ amid speculation Shahidan to be dropped

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional’s operation centres in the Arau constituency have been closed down, Perlis Umno chief Shahidan Kassim said tonight, amid speculation that he would be dropped as a candidate in the general election.

He said the BN flags at the centre had been taken down. “This is the first time in history it has happened. This is the saddest night.”

The Arau constituency has been held by BN for 10 terms since 1974, except for a two-year spell when a PAS candidate won in a by-election. Shahidan has served four terms, from 1986 to 1995, and 2013 to 2022.

Shahidan’s posting came hours after Ketereh division chief Annuar Musa shared a report claiming that Umno leaders aligned to vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob would not be featured in the general election.

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Ahead of GE15, Pakatan share of Malay support in peninsula down three-fold

KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) popularity among Malays in the peninsula was at 10.2% as of October 2, this year, data from a survey showed.

This is in contrast to its share of 25% to 30% of the Malay vote in the 2018 general election when Bersatu and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad were part of the coalition.

The data as of October 2, by polling firm Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, also showed that Barisan Nasional (BN) had the largest share of support from the Malay community, at 37%, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) had 14.6%.

However, a large chunk of Malays – at 34.9% – were undecided about which coalition they supported, while the remaining 3.3% went to “other parties”.

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Zahid making moves to be PM?

KUALA LUMPUR – With the axe falling on incumbent Umno MPs aligned to caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob from contesting in the general election (GE15), party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is said to be preparing himself as a possible prime minister candidate.

Sources said the replacement candidates who have been given candidate appointment letters or “watikah” were also asked to sign letters supporting Zahid by giving him the mandate to form the next cabinet, should Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) win the election.

This includes backing Zahid to negotiate with other political parties and to appoint MPs of his choice as cabinet members, effectively positioning him as the prime minister candidate, according to party insiders.

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Five years on, PH faces a challenge for Selangor seats

PETALING JAYA: Selangor will be the arena of several high profile contests for parliamentary seats in the Nov 19 general election, with questions now being asked whether Pakatan Harapan will dominate the fray as in 2018.

Of the 22 parliamentary seats in Selangor, PH won 20 in May 2018 but political manoeuvres left it with 16 at the time of Parliament’s dissolution. Perikatan Nasional had 3, Parti Bangsa Malaysia 2 and Barisan Nasional 1.

The coalition’s dominance may be waning. The Anwar Ibrahim-led coalition lasted only 22 months in power as the federal government when BN, Bersatu, PAS and a faction led by PKR’s then deputy president Azmin Ali joined forces to form the PN government in March 2020.

PH would lose five seats after political defections, most notably Gombak and Ampang, which were won by Azmin and then PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin with a majority of 48,721 and 41,956 votes respectively.

Azmin is now with Bersatu while Zuraida is in PBM having left Bersatu.

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Umno’s Razali Ibrahim expected to be fielded against Muhyiddin in Pagoh

PETALING JAYA: Umno Supreme Council member Razali Ibrahim is expected to contest the Pagoh parliamentary seat in the coming general election (GE15), said a source close to the party.

Razali is expected to go up against Perikatan Nasional (PN) chief Muhyiddin Yassin who won the seat in the 2018 general election. Muhyiddin was the Pagoh MP from 1978 to 1986 and from 1995 to Parliament’s dissolution on Oct 10.

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No tolls on North-South Highway if PH wins GE15, says Guan Eng

PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has pledged that Pakatan Harapan (PH) will abolish tolls on the PLUS North-South Expressway if it wins the general election (GE15) and forms the next federal government.

At a pre-GE15 campaign dinner in Jelapang, Perak yesterday, Lim said PH had reduced toll fees for the highway by 18% when it was in power for 22 months.

According to China Press, the former finance minister said PH “can abolish tolls” on the highway if it gets another five years in government.

Lim had been quoted as making a similar pledge in 2017, before PH’s historic win on May 9, 2018. However, the PH government was toppled after 22 months in power.

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Warisan fielding 26 candidates in Peninsula, including ex-MCA president

AMPANG: Warisan will be contesting 26 parliamentary seats in West Malaysia in the upcoming general election (GE15), with the party set to field former MCA president Ong Tee Keat in Pandan.

After a five-year hiatus from politics, Ong officially became a Warisan member today.

At a press conference, the former transport minister said he decided to return to politics due to the political turmoil in the country and after being urged by Warisan president Shafie Apdal.

Shafie also announced that former DAP and PKR man Wee Choo Keong will be contesting the Wangsa Maju seat.

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Zahid tightens hold as those aligned to Ismail Sabri to be dropped as candidates

THERE is a possibility of another four candidates likely to be dropped by the UMNO leadership in the upcoming 15th national polls on Nov 19.

Those four are Datuk Seri Noh Omar (Tanjung Karang), Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Shariff (Jempol), Datuk Seri Ismail Abdul Muttalib (Maran), and Datuk Mastura Mohd Yazid (Kuala Kangsar).

The four added to the list are those that are being dropped as they are aligned to caretaker Prime Minister’s Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s camp, as UMNO’s internal politics heat up with its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi taking the upper hand.

Previously, it was revealed that four-term Arau MP and caretaker Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim was rumoured as one of those who would be dropped.

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PKR’s Hasni Abas to contest Sembrong seat

PETALING JAYA: Johor PKR organising secretary and Parit Sulong division chief Hasni Abas has been announced as the party’s candidate for the Sembrong parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15).

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said Hasni, 60, is a Malay language and education activist with a background in literature and political science.

“We took into account several factors, including how Sembrong has a high number of Felda voters and has never been won by PKR,” he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters here.

Former Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein has hinted that he would be defending the seat which he has held since 2004.

Source: FMT