By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, June 21 — Seri Serdang assemblyman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud has announced her decision not to defend her seat in the upcoming state election.
This is despite her having served just a single term in the state constituency.
Dr Mariah, who is the executive councillor for public health, said the decision was made to allow her to focus more on community programmes and provide the opportunity for newer faces to serve in the state administration.
“This term, I have been busy with various state government programmes, so I was not really able to mingle with the local community. After this, it is my intention to work with senior citizens.
“Previously, my time was quite restricted, and this meant I wasn’t able to mix around with them,” she said, adding that she would be focusing on health issues during her time spent with the senior citizens in the future.
Dr Mariah said despite her decision not to contest in the coming polls, she is prepared to advise and assist her political outfit Parti Amanah Negara based on her vast experience.
In the 2018 General Election, Dr Mariah won the Seri Serdang state seat with a majority of 14,363 votes, defeating two other candidates, including then incumbent Mohamed Satim Diman from Barisan Nasional.
Prior to that, she was a two time Kota Raja MP, winning the federal seat in 2008 and 2013 during her time with PAS.
Dr Mariah is the third state executive councillor to express desire to sit out the coming state poll.
Previously in May, Kota Kemuning state assemblyman and Socio-economic Development, Social Welfare and Workers Empowerment Committee chairman V. Ganabatirau had said he does not intend to defend his seat and would instead focus on his parliamentary constituency of Klang, which he won in the 15th General Election.
On Monday, Batu Tiga incumbent and Housing, Urban Wellbeing and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Rodziah Ismail similarly said she was prepared to make way for younger faces and focus on her Ampang parliamentary seat.
On Monday, Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj consented to the dissolution of the state assembly on June 23 to pave the way for the state election, which is expected to be held concurrently with Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
