KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — A total of 71 women candidates will be contesting in the state elections in six states, with a total of 245 seats up for grabs.
Pakatan Harapan has the most women candidates, with 26 out of a total of 138 candidates, while Barisan Nasional (BN) is fielding 12 women out of 108 candidates, Perikatan Nasional (PN) have 19 women out of 245 candidates, while the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) has the largest percentage, with 10 women out of 19 candidates.
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) is fielding two women, while Parti Socialis Malaysia (PRM) is fielding one woman. There is also one woman independent candidate as well.
The women candidates are from a diverse range of backgrounds, with most holding important positions in their respective parties.
Other prominent women candidates include former Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun, who is running for the Batu Tiga seat under PN, against Saiyidah Izzati Nur Razak Maideen of Muda and Danial Al-Rashid Haron Aminar Rashid (Harapan-Amanah).
Meanwhile, the race for 245 state assembly seats has drawn participation from 41 Independent candidates.
Based on the Election Commission’s (EC) nomination data, the number of Independent candidates contesting in the Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu state polls is less than 10 per cent of the overall 570 candidates.
Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor recorded the highest number of Independent candidates with 10 candidates each, followed by Kelantan and Penang with five each.
Only one Independent candidate has come forward to contest in the Terengganu state polls, namely Che Harun Kamariah Abdullah who will be contesting the Hulu Besut seat.
There are also instances of several Independent candidates competing for the same state assembly seats, among them in Kedah and Negeri Sembilan.
The state elections have also revealed an interesting contrast between the candidates in terms of age, with the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) candidate Melanie Ting Yi-Hlin, at 23, having the distinction of being the youngest to contest.
On the other hand, Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) deputy chairman MS. Ravinder Singh, 80, is the oldest candidate in the polls involving Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu.
The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election is also being held on the same day, after the seat was declared vacant following the Terengganu Election Court’s decision to nullify the victory of Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim of PAS in the 15th general election.
Melanie, who is also chief of staff of Muda’s Central Information Team will be involved in a three-cornered fight for the Bukit Antarabangsa seat in Selangor against Pakatan Harapan candidate Mohd. Kamri Kamaruddin and Shasha Lyna Abdul Latif from Perikatan Nasional (PN).
In Pantai Jerejak in Penang, former teacher Ravinder Singh will be up against three other contenders — Fahmi Zainol (Harapan-PKR), Oh Tong Keong (PN-Gerakan) and Muda’s Loh Xiang Pin.
Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah, will be holding their state elections simultaneously on August 12, along with the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, with early voting set on August 8.
— Bernama
