By Amar Shah Mohsen
SHAH ALAM, July 29 — For one former MP, the battle for the Hulu Kelang state seat is a matter of either voting in a candidate that brings high hope for the masses or one that is hopeless.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (Keadilan) former Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff said this in reference to Pakatan Harapan’s (Harapan) candidate Juwairiya Zulkifli and Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who will face each other in the August 12 state election.
Yusmadi noted that unlike Azmin, who has been mired in various controversies over the years, Juwairiya has proven herself to be a committed and capable leader who is not afraid of challenges.
One example, he said, was her decision to leave her Bukit Melawati’s seat that she won in 2018 to face a former Selangor menteri besar and state PN chairman.
“Juwairiya is not just about Hulu Kelang, she’s about hope for all women in the country. Her victory will be a testament to her determination as a woman. She’s a lady who does not shy away from challenges and always commits herself throughout.
“So, it’s a choice between a lady who started her career from a young age, came from a decent family, and has committed herself to the public, and a male candidate with certain (antics) and (questionable) track record, which I don’t want to elaborate.
“For me, it’s between hope and (the) hopeless,” he said during Selangor Journal’s ‘Lunch on Us!’ programme in conjunction with the ongoing state poll, here, today.
Juwairiya was previously the assemblyman for Bukit Melawati, having won the seat in the last election with a majority of 2,695 votes in a three-horse race. She was later elected deputy Keadilan Women’s chief during the party’s internal election last year.
Azmin, on the other hand, is leaving Bukit Antarabangsa, a seat which he has served for three consecutive terms, to contest in Hulu Kelang. He is also tipped to be PN’s menteri besar candidate.
Meanwhile, Yusmadi said in the event of a victory for Juwairiya, she should be entrusted with a much bigger responsibility in the state government.
She is currently the political secretary to Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
“I wish, if she wins, she is given a very important portfolio. If that happens, then it’s not only about Selangor, but about the future imagination of the whole country.
“While people only see the politics in Gombak as being about the former MB (Azmin) versus the current MB (Amirudin), it’s not. It’s about the future and hope for the country.”
Selangor is among six states that will be holding their state elections on August 12, the others being Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. Early voting will be held on August 8.
