THE heat is on in Pandan, with PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in a five-cornered fight as she seeks to keep the parliamentary seat under the party’s control.

She said with Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the helm, the opposition bloc has a good chance of changing the government.

“Barisan Nasional is strong, but the people here (in Pandan) want a change, and they will give us victory this time around.”

Pandan incumbent Rafizi Ramli of PKR was barred from contesting the seat after being sentenced to 30 months’ jail for exposing bank account details related to the National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd and its chairman, Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail.

At 11.10am, returning officer Hasrolnizam Shaari announced the names of the candidates at the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Hall.

The candidates are Dr Wan Azizah, BN’s Leong Kok Wee, PAS’ Mohamed Shukri Omar, PRM’s Jenice Lee Ying Ha and independent Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz.

“We have been going down to the ground to listen to the people’s grouses since a year ago, and the response is good,” said Shukri.

“Since splitting from Pakatan Rakyat, many of our members want us to contest here.”

Khairul, who is a lawyer for controversial Indian preacher Dr Zakir Naik, showed up in traditional Malay attire. He said he has a good chance in Pandan, where he is known for providing legal services for free.

“Every week, I get a team of lawyers to help the people here with their problems. If given the chance, I will continue to assist them in more ways and bring their issues to Parliament.”

In the 2013 general election, Rafizi retained the seat by defeating BN’s Lim Chin Yee by 26,729 votes. – April 28, 2018.