NOTHING is more important to the Muda candidate for Batu Tiga than the development of her hometown in Shah Alam.

Saiyidah Izzati Razak Maideen, who is known to her family and friends as Cheda Razak, wants Batu Tiga residents to have the infrastructure and amenities that their neighbours in Kota Anggerik enjoy.

“They have better parks, universities and more attraction. So why is Kota Anggerik more developed?

“People have compared Batu Tiga to a B40 area where there is not much development, and the area has experienced flooding.

“The main issue that needs to be tackled here is the urban poor. About 30% of the youth have left Batu Tiga to seek better jobs elsewhere.”

Cheda, a lawyer of 11 years, grew up in Batu Tiga. She went to school in Section 18 Shah Alam, and loves to play futsal and football.

On joining Muda, Cheda said she joined the youth party was because she was frustrated with bureaucracy.

“I believe there should be more efficiency whether in the courts, public services or government agencies.

“That is why I joined Muda in 2020 – to be a leader for people who are in need.

“I don’t want to be that person who always complains but doesn’t do anything about it.”

Flooding

Cheda said if she were to be elected, her first order of business would to develop a better development policy for the consituency.

“(To address) flooding in Batu Tiga, there must be a better flood mitigation plan.

“In Kampung Kuantan there are still floods even after drainage work has been carried out by the government.

“If we don’t address the flooding issue, it will be difficult to have economic development. It is all linked.”

Sungai Anak Damansara flows through Batu Tiga.

Cheda is up against former women family and community development minister Rina Harun (Perikatan Nasional) and adjunct associate professor Danial Al-Rashid (Pakatan Harapan).

Rina, who is Bersatu women’s wing chairman, was defeated in the Sepang parliamentary seat in last year’s general election.

Batu Tiga seat was the seat of former Selangor exco Rodziah Ismail.

A fresh face

Cheda said she has received a lot of support from the elderly who want to see fresh faces in the polls.

“My young team and I are also on all social media platforms to reach out to the youth.

“We need to educate the youth on the importance of voting. Yes, they all want to vote, but they should know what they are voting for. There needs to be programmes about this.

“We also need to have more programmes for the youth and single mothers to help them develop skills instead of giving out aid.”

As for her chances of winning, Cheda said she is a local who grew up in Batu Tiga.

“It’s not that I know 100% of all the issues here, but I can relate to the plight of the people.

“I don’t have any big strategy going up against Rina and Danial except to focus on the people. The state government can do more for them

“I don’t have the experience of being a minister like Rina nor do I have the experience of Danial, who was a local councilor. I am just a concerned member of the rakyat doing her duty.

“That’s why I’m here as a candidate – I know what I can do for the people.”

Cheda said that when she was working as a lawyer, her clients would ask if they have a chance at winning the case.

“I always told them we have to work hard and that it was up to the judge to decide.

“In this case, we campaign and let the voters, who are the judges, decide who is best candidate to raise their issues. It’s all in the hands of the voters.” – August 11, 2023.