IN addition to candidates with ministerial status, Selangor is witnessing the emergence of community activists and local film industry practitioners contesting in the general election.

Among the focus is the presence of caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who previously held the Rembau parliamentary seat in Negri Sembilan. However, this time he is to represent Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat.

Also in the spotlight was the debut appearance of caretaker finance minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who has a banking and corporate background, in the political arena as the BN candidate for the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat.

One of his rivals is former health minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad from Pakatan Harapan (PH), who is also the incumbent MP.

A community activist who has frequently highlighted the issue of potholes, and the founder of Ikatan Silaturahim Brotherhood, Azlan Sani Zawawi, better known as Lando, has also entered the political arena, to contest the Tanjong Karang seat, representing Pejuang.

Another community activist, Kuan Chee Heng, or “Uncle Kentang”, will also try his luck in the polls in the Puchong parliamentary constituency as an independent candidate. Kuan previously contested in the Semenyih state seat by-election in 2019.

Also attracting attention is the appearance of actor-producer-director Eizlan Yusof, or real name Idris Md Yusof, to contest as a Pejuang candidate in the Sabak Bernam parliamentary seat.

Another film producer, S. Surendhar, is contesting as an independent in Kota Raja.

Gombak is one of the focus parliamentary seats in Selangor involving caretaker international trade and industry minister Mohamed Azmin Ali (Perikatan Nasional) to defend his seat. He will be facing his challengers, namely Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, who represents PH. Other candidates are Megat Zulkarnain Omardin (BN), Aziz Jamaludin Mhd Tahir (Pejuang) and Zulkifli Ahmad (independent).

Incumbent Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin from Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), who is also caretaker plantation industries and commodities minister, will be involved in a nine-cornered clash to defend her seat, which is also the most contested seat in Selangor.

The polls in Selangor will also witness eight-cornered fights in three parliamentary seats, seven-cornered (three), six-cornered (four), five-cornered (three), four-cornered (five) and three-cornered (two) clashes.

The Election Commission has set November 19 as the polling day and November 15 for early voting. – Bernama, November 5, 2022.