By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, Aug 14 — The results of the Selangor election demonstrate that while voters are generally satisfied with the current administration, they will not tolerate complacency, according to Juwairiya Zulkifli, the Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) candidate who lost in Hulu Kelang.
In a series of posts on social media platform X, the political secretary to Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the August 12 polls should serve as a reminder that non-performers will be punished.
“They do not want Harapan to be complacent. Voters no longer vote based on party alone, but also track record and candidates,” she said today.
“They will punish those who do not perform. They want new faces, they want new hope.”
In the election on Saturday, Harapan lost its two-thirds majority of the state assembly after the coalition, together with its new partner Barisan Nasional (BN), secured only 34 seats, with the remaining 22 won by Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The polls witnessed several surprising results, with a number Harapan and BN strongholds falling to PN, including Hulu Kelang, Gombak Setia, Semenyih, Taman Medan, Sungai Ramal and Paya Jaras.
Commenting on her defeat to Selangor PN chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali in Hulu Kelang, Juwairiya said the result could be likely down to the former menteri besar’s popularity in the constituency.
“It became a popularity contest, where a 15-year ‘serving’ candidate went against a candidate who served for just two weeks.
“Some say I lost because voters did not know me and they prefer someone familiar to them,” she said.
Azmin is no outsider to Hulu Kelang constituents, having represented them for one-term between 1999 and 2004 before going on to serve the neighbouring Bukit Antarabangsa state seat and Gombak parliament for about 15 years since 2008.
Juwairiya, meanwhile, was announced as Harapan’s candidate for Hulu Kelang just weeks before polling day. She was previously the Bukit Melawati assemblyman.
Despite her defeat, the Keadilan Women’s deputy chief said she would not be leaving the constituency and will continue to serve the people as an ordinary citizen.
“This is my home,” she said, adding that she continues to receive well wishes and messages of support from voters and fellow Malaysians to this day.
“Whatever it is, I’m happy that I got to know so many amazing people within the past two weeks, especially my machinery and Umno friends, who worked tirelessly to assist me.
“They cried after the results (came out). I can see their sincerity, young and old. Thank you.”
