THE polls in six states have attracted 41 Independents.

Kedah, Negri Sembilan and Selangor have the highest number of Independents with 10 each, followed by Kelantan and Penang with five each.

Terengganu has one Independent – Che Harun Kamariah Abdullah – who is eyeing the Hulu Besut seat.

Political observer Mazlan Ali says though there are many Independents, they are unlikely to cause any upsets.

He said voters tend to choose candidates backed by strong parties.

“They (Independents) won’t cause any upsets and they will lose their deposits. It is hard for Independents to win as voters prefer those with strong party logos.

“Even a party like Pejuang can’t fight Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN) or Perikatan Nasional (PN).

“But as a part of democracy, (Independents) are welcome,” Mazlan told The Malaysian Insight.

He said voters in Sabah and Sarawak are more receptive to Independents.

“You can see Independents winning in East Malaysia, like in the last Sabah elections, two (Independents) won in Tenom and Kudat.

“Although later they joined parties, they won the seats as Independents. In the peninsula, take P. Prabakaran (Batu MP) as an example, he was an Independent but then PKR backed him as its candidate after Tian Chua (Chua Tian Chang) couldn’t (contest),” he said. In the last general election, Prabakaran retained the seat for PH.

“In the state elections, the fight is between PH-BN and PN. Even Muda and PSM (Parti Sosialis Malaysia) can’t do much,” he said.

Mazlan said voters want a candidate who can make a difference, not someone without power.

“They will say there is no point voting for an Independent if he cannot bring change. Voters want a party that can form a government, so it is hard for an Independent to win,” he said.

Kedah

Lunas will see a five-cornered fight with three Independents.

N. Rajendran, S.S. Pannir Selvam and S. Arichindarem are challenging PH/PKR candidate Shamsul Anuar Abdullah and PN/Bersatu candidate Khairul Anuar Ramli.

In Air Hangat, two Independents – Safwan Hanif Shafie and Zulfadli Yusof – will face PN/Bersatu’s Shamsillah Siru and BN/Umno’s Hisham Suhaily Othman.

Negri Sembilan

In Sikamat, two Independents (Bujang Abu and Mohammed Hafiz Baharudin) are going up against caretaker Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun.

Nilai also sees two Independents, Omar Isa and Yessu Samuel, challenging PH/DAP’s J. Arul Kumar and PN/Bersatu’s Gan Chee Biow.

Ex-PKR assemblyman Mohamad Rafie Ab Malek will be defending his Ampangan seat as an Independent. Rafie was Seremban PKR deputy chief.

Selangor

MCA’s Wong Jung Lik will contest as an Independent in Seri Kembangan. MCA had earlier said it would sit out the state polls.

In Sungai Tua, Independent Suman Gopal faces caretaker Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari a second time. Suman had in the 2013 general election contested the seat, then known as Batu Caves, but received only 182 votes.

Suman said he is confident he will win this time.

Penang

Former Seberang Perai city councillor David Marshel will contest as an Independent in Perai. He had quit DAP and resigned as city councillor after serving 10 terms.

Marshall lambasted DAP for giving opportunities only to the rich, not those who have toiled for the community for years.

Another ex-DAP assemblyman, Satees Muniandy, will stand as an Independent after he was not asked to defend his Bagan Dalam seat.

Satees, who joined DAP in 2008, said he has sent a letter of resignation to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.

He said the party is run by an “emperor”. It is believed Satees was referring to Lim Guan Eng. – August 1, 2023.