AMID the politicking on both sides of the divide in GE14, Malaysia Decides is focusing on what parliamentary candidates will stand for and what they rate as the country’s most urgent problems. We ask them five questions about their role as federal lawmakers if they are elected. 

Pakatan Harapan’s Rina Mohd Harun is the underdog in the fight for the Titiwangsa parliamentary seat. The 45-year-old Wanita Bersatu chief will take on Barisan Nasional’s Johari Abdul Ghani, who is caretaker second finance minister.

Johari has held the seat for one term, taking it back from PAS, which won the traditional BN seat for the first time in 2008. The 14th general election will see a three-cornered fight between Rina, Johari and Federal Territories PAS commissioner Mohamad Noor Mohamad.

Titiwangsa’s decade-long issues over Malay reserve land and the Indian settlements will be one of the key determining factors in winning the seat.

Q: What will you fight for in Parliament?

Rina: I will bring more women voices to Parliament and women’s issues. Women are the backbone of the country.

Q: What are the three most urgent problems in the country?

Rina: Education, health and cost of living.

Q: What is the solution?

Rina: Allocations for education and health should not be cut. Children need education to be successful in the future.

For Titwangsa, I want it to be a unique place of urban wellbeing for residents.

Q: What is the state of the nation?

Rina: Recently, I went to a school in Taman Maluri. The committee members of the parent-teacher association there told me chairs were broken and the school had no funds to replace them. So they had to hammer the chairs (and repair them) themselves.

Meanwhile, people are going to hospital but finding there is not enough medicines.

Q: Why should voters pick you?

Rina: Because I represent PH and we bring hope and justice to the people. That is why we are using the Keadilan (justice) logo these elections. – April 30, 2018.