By Sheeda Fathil
SHAH ALAM, June 20 — Selangor executive councillor Rodziah Ismail is ready to draw the curtain on her stint as Batu Tiga assemblyman to allow for a fresher face to replace her in the constituency in the coming state election.
Rodziah, who is Parti Keadilan Rakyat Women chief, said the move is necessary to ensure that future generations of leaders are able to be part of the state administration.
Additionally, she said this would allow her to focus on her duties as Ampang MP, following her victory there in the 15th General Election.
“A recent branch meeting did decide to retain the two assemblymen in Shah Alam, namely Batu Tiga and Kota Anggerik. However, I will leave it up to the party leadership.
“On top of that, I am also now the member of Parliament for Ampang. Certainly my responsibilities have multiplied,” she said when met by reporters yesterday.
Rodziah, however, said she would abide by the party’s decision if it decides to nominate her to defend Batu Tiga, a seat she has held for three consecutive terms since making her electoral debut in 2008.
“If I am asked to stay, I will obey, but to me, if there is a space, then it’s better to give it to the younger faces to lead the state.”
In the last general election in November, Rodziah secured the Ampang federal constituency with a handsome majority of 29,681, after defeating eight other candidates, including its incumbent and former Keadilan leader Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin.
Yesterday, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj consented to the dissolution of the Selangor legislative assembly on June 23 to pave the way for the state election.
Apart from Selangor, five other states are also expected to hold their polls concurrently, namely Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
