KUALA Lumpur Consumer Safety Association president Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi is offering to contest as an Independent candidate in the Pulai parliamentary by-election next month.

Samsudin, 47, who also contested the Putrajaya parliamentary seat in the 15th general election as an Independent candidate, said he aims to bring the voice of civil society groups to parliament if elected.

He also said he decided to throw his hat in the ring after seeing more focus given on positions rather than people’s issues after last year’s polls.

“I feel the need for civil society groups to bring the people’s voice to parliament, to convey what is happening to the people because we directly deal with various consumer issues. We listen to people’s grievances every day.

“I have been commuting to Pulai for three weeks now to collect data, and I have seen many people who are struggling, for example, with the rising prices of goods,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

The Kluang native said he chose to stand as an Independent candidate because he did not want to be bound by any political party.

“I’m not here to divide the votes. I want the people to understand that choosing an Independent candidate will not disrupt the government’s stability. I’m offering them a chance to determine whether they wish to be heroes for the consumers. The decision rests with them.

“However, the people’s voice already exists in parliament, and I am opening the door for other groups to progress further,” he said.

In the November polls, Bersatu vice-president Dr Mohd Radzi Jidin, who contested on a Perikatan Nasional ticket, won the Putrajaya parliamentary seat with a 2,310-vote majority, defeating five challengers including Samsudin and incumbent Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (Barisan Nasional).

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed August 26 for nomination, September 5 for early voting and September 9 for polling for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections.

There are 166,653 eligible voters for Pulai and 40,379 for Simpang Jeram.

It was previously reported that the EC had sold eight nomination forms for both by-elections as of August 18.

The two seats fell vacant following the death of the incumbent representative, the late domestic trade and cost of living minister Salahuddin Ayub, on July 23. – Bernama, August 22, 2023.