WANITA PKR deputy chairman Juwairiyah Zulkifli remains assured that being a Hulu Kelang native will help her defeat Mohamed Azmin Ali for the state seat.  

Hulu Kelang will see a straight fight between Juwairiyah and her former comrade Azmin, who is now contesting under the Perikatan National (PN) banner. 

Both have expressed confidence in winning the seat on the grounds that they were born and raised in Hulu Kelang. 

Juwairiyah told The Malaysian Insight she grew up in Lembah Keramat and studied at the Taman Permata high school. 

Therefore, she said, she was familiar with what people wanted and was ready to address their needs. 

She added that public response to her campaign had been very positive. 

“I have gone for walkabouts and while some people have just gotten to know me, I also met my former neighbours, friends, classmates, and teachers. 

“While some are from the opposition party, they have welcomed me back to my hometown because of our good relationship. They are quite happy that I have been selected to contest here. 

“I hope to be given a chance to represent them. Maybe we can swing some votes in localities where I have history,” she said. 

“Hulu Kelang is mostly an urban area where about 49% of voters here are women, while 48% out of 71,000 voters here are youth. 

“My focus is on the women and youth, and at the same time to upgrade the infrastructure and public facilities here,” she said. 

She added that voters there demanded the upgrading of roads, particularly at Keramat from AU1 to AU5. 

She said the roads were damaged due to the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry’s sewerage pipe constructions.  

“I have spoken to its minister Nik Nazmi and gotten his assurance that this issue can be solved. 

“These roads have not been paved for up to eight years. This is a majority Malay area, and they are disappointed with the road conditions. 

“This will be my main focus.”

The youth, however, are seeking development centres, sports facilities, and hang out spots, said Juwairiya. 

“As for the women and single mothers, I’m looking to provide legal assistance or free legal service on issues such as divorce and child support,” she said. 

Facing Azmin 

When asked about her opponent, Juwairiya doesn’t deny that he had contributed to the development in the locality during his tenure as three-term Gombak MP and one-term Hulu Kelang assemblyman.  

“It is a big challenge for me to face him but I’m not afraid; I’m confident I will get through because I have a strong support system in Hulu Kelang. 

“We have solid PKR machinery here, led by Gombak MP Amirudin Shari, who is also caretaker Selangor menteri besar. We also have our allies in Barisan Nasional to help.” 

Juwairiya doesn’t believe that PN will be able to take over Selangor from Pakatan Harapan (PH). 

“Based on the data we have studied, there is the possibility that PH might lose a few seats. However, we believe that in certain areas we will maintain our majority, especially with PH and BN working together. 

“We are looking at winning about 42 to 45 seats based on the studies and current sentiments.” 

Juwairiya said Selangor residents could see the stability of the PH state government in continuing its good work and implementing beneficial policies. 

Juwairiyah added that she was on all social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X to attract all voter segments. 

“For this campaign we are focusing more on TikTok based on data from GE15 as first-time voters and youth are attracted to this platform. 

“We also upload daily activities on FB and the comments from users are very useful such as giving me support, raising issues, and other reactions.” 

Juwairiya was moved by PH to Hulu Kelang from Bukit Melawati, which she won in 2018. 

She said although she would have preferred to defend her Bukit Melawati seat, she accepted PH’s decision to move her to Hulu Kelang. 

In the 2018 general election, Juwairiya had beaten the Bukit Melawati incumbent Jakiran Jacomah from BN by 2,695 votes. 

The Hulu Kelang seat is currently held by Selangor Amanah deputy chairman Saari Sungib, who is not defending it due to ill-health and Amanah’s decision to give it to PKR to contest. 

Hulu Kelang is one of the three state seats that make up the Gombak parliamentary constituency that Azmin lost in the recent general election to Amirudin Shari. 

For Azmin, going back to Hulu Kelang will see him go full circle in his political career. This is where he started when he stood in the 1999 general election. 

Azmin said he was returning to Hulu Kelang as he hails from Kampung Klang Gate and considers the area his “family’s backyard”. 

Of the 56 state seats in Selangor, Hulu Kelang has the highest number of Malay voters – nearly 87% of the electorate. – August 6, 2023.