THERE is a possibility that the Kapar parliament seat will be contested by Umno instead of MIC.
A proposal for a swap has been mooted, with MIC to be given the Kuala Langat seat in place of Kapar for the 15th General Election (GE15).
A source from Kapar Umno division revealed that they held discussions with the state party leadership for the move and they are waiting a decision by the Barisan Nasional leadership.
Barisan represented by MIC lost Kapar to PKR in 2008 and again in 2013 and 2018.
Kapar Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Roslee Abd Hamid is touted as a potential candidate if the deal with MIC goes through.
Other proposed names are Kapar Umno youth chief Muhammad Noor Azman, women’s wing vice-chief Haiza Marina, youth assistant secretary Zaifon Nazim Ramli, information deputy chief Mohd Khairi Husin and treasurer Datuk Faizal Abdullah.
Mohd Roslee, when asked if Umno was vying for the Kapar seat, said: “It is all about having the right candidate, its Keluarga Barisan and Barisan need to win the seat”.
He noted that Kapar has 188,095 voters with Malays making up 128,086 (68.10%), Chinese 28,605 (15.21%) and Indians 26,636 (14.16%).
It also has 12,391 Undi18 voters who can make a difference but it will be hard to gauge the choice of first-time young voters, said Mohd Roslee.
“Undi18 Malay voters for Kapar number 9,547, Chinese 1,324, Indians 1,358 and others 162.
“We have engaged a sizeable number of youths through various programmes,” he added.
Asked about the likely Kapar parliamentary seat swap with MIC, Mohd Roslee said: “Most voters in Kapar want a Malay candidate.”
Meanwhile, Kapar Parliament MIC coordinator Datuk P. Kamalanathan has been holding meet-the-people sessions every Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm for almost three years in Kapar to resolve various issues, including MyKad applications and Social Security Organisation or Socso claims.
The Kapar parliamentary seat is traditionally contested by MIC under the Barisan banner.
A source said Kamalanathan is tipped to be the Barisan candidate this time around.
Kapar MIC division chief Kalaiyarasan Vathumalai, 50, said the Undi18 automatic voter registration has empowered youths and should see an increase in civic participation among this group.
“We have engaged the youths through various programmes.
“We are confident the younger generation will vote wisely,” he said.
It is said that incumbent Kapar MP Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid from PKR who won the seat in GE14 may contest the Kuala Langat parliamentary seat where he had served two terms between 2008 and 2018.
Pakatan Harapan has still not named its candidate for Kapar but there is word that they plan to field a female candidate.
PKR vice-president Saraswathy Kandasamy is among those being considered for Kapar if it is confirmed that Abdullah Sani will not be defending the seat.
As for Perikatan Nasional, talk is that they may field Dr Halimah Ali from PAS, who was a former Selangor executive councillor.
She was the Selat Klang assemblyman for two terms.
In GE14, she lost the seat which comes under the Kapar parliamentary constituency to PKR’s Abdul Rashid Asari by 500 votes.
Asked if she will be the PAS candidate for Kapar, Dr Halimah said: “Not certain at this moment, it may be but everything will depend on the party’s Syura Ulama Council.”
Mohd Roslee is mentioned as a possible BN candidate for Kapar.
Kamalanathan from MIC is thought to be a likely Barisan candidate.
Incumbent Abdullah Sani from PKR may move to Kuala Langat.
PN is considering Dr Halimah from PAS for the parliamentary seat.
