EDMUND Santhara Kumar, now into his third political party since the 2018 general election, wants to defend his Segamat parliamentary seat in the coming national polls.

However, this could result in a conflict with MIC, which is looking to win back its traditional seat, as Santhara’s new party, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), has also applied to join Barisan Nasional (BN).

In the last general election, then newcomer Santhara snatched the seat from then MIC president Dr S. Subramaniam under the Pakatan Harapan banner. He was a member of PKR at the time.

He hopped over to Bersatu following the Sheraton Move in February 2020 and earlier this month, joined PBM.

Santhara has expressed hope to retain the Segamat seat for PBM, which is still waiting for approval to join BN.

He was reported as telling news portal The Vibes that he wants to contest in Segamat to continue his work for the constituency for another term, adding that he received “strong support from the numerous communities” there to represent them again.

“I have asked all of them whether I should stand and contest, and they want me to stand. Therefore, I think I have to defend the Segamat seat,” he was quoted as saying.

Santhara, who is tourism, arts and culture deputy minister under the Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration, said he was the only lawmaker to have engaged a third party to audit his parliamentary expense accounts. 

He said that he had spent over RM1 million of his own money for his constituency, apart from the allocation given by the government, including in providing boats and vehicles to government agencies to help with food relief efforts.

Santhara is set to face a tough challenge from his old party PKR, which is keen to win back the seat from a “party traitor”.

The opposition broke MIC’s long-time hold on the seat in the last general election after having come close in two previous polls, only for Santhara to jump ship.

But his decision to contest in Segamat could cause a bigger clash with MIC, which is confident of winning back the seat, especially after BN’s thumping victory in the Johor polls earlier this year.

MIC vice-president M. Asojan is expected to contest in Segamat after being appointed as the Segamat parliamentary coordinator.

When asked if he is the BN candidate for this seat, Asojan was coy, saying that it was up to the MIC president and BN chairman to decide.

Previously Santhara was also tipped to contest in the Batu constituency – a PKR stronghold –in Kuala Lumpur. 

In the 2018 election, there were 55,350 registered voters in Segamat, with Malays making up 46%, followed by Chinese (42%), Indians (10%) and others, including East Malaysians and Orang Asli.

Santhara defeated Subramaniam with a majority of 5,476 votes. – October 16, 2022.