SLIGHTLY more than a year ago, Bukit Melawati representative Juwairiya Zulkifli would have likely laughed off any suggestion that she would be in front-line politics, much less as an assemblyman.

But the vibrant 34-year-old, who was actively working behind the scenes in PKR prior to the 14th general election, said she could not imagine doing anything else now.

“Now that I’m an assemblyman, things are different. I’m able to help more people.

“It is the passion that drives me to help make changes in people’s lives,” she told The Malaysian Insight in a recent interview to mark Pakatan Harapan’s first year in power.

Juwairiya was asked to contest the seat after PKR’s Sivamalar Ganapathy’s nomination forms were rejected.

Sivamalar was dismissed because her address stated that she was from Raub, Pahang. Candidates must be from Selangor to qualify.

On April 28, 2018, at 9.40am, Juwairiya got a call from then PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to submit her papers.

“I had all my forms ready as I was one of the three candidates (shortlisted) to contest but I was not chosen.

“At that time, I didn’t have the deposit and surat watikah (consent letter from the party).

“But, somehow within 20 minutes before nominations closed at 10am, we managed to get things sorted out as the returning officer was considerate about our situation,” she recalled of that chaotic morning.

She won the seat by 2,695 votes, defeating Barisan Nasional’s Jakiran Jacomah.

Juwairiya still finds it hard to believe the string of events leading to the historic May 9 elections but admits that she has had little time to be reflective.

“This is a full-time job and it is challenging. It is difficult to get a break, but we do it for the people,” she said of her new role.

“My time now is for the people and hopefully, I will settle down before my term ends in the next four years.”

Juwairiya graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia with a degree in system science and management and started her career in politics in 2008 as personal assistant to Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh.

She later served as an assistant and researcher for former Selangor menteri besar Mohamed Azmin Ali and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin.

Her main concern now is to assist the B40 group who make up the bulk of constituents filing into her service centre in Taman Bendahara.

“They are people from poor backgrounds that come to seek welfare. They are mostly single mothers, senior citizens and the local fishermen.

“We do give them aid but what we are focusing now is to help them carry out small businesses.”

The next move, said Juwairiya, is to organise skills-training sessions. – May 7, 2019.