Saari said he will not defend his seat due to poor health.
ANFAAL Saari, the daughter of Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib, has confirmed that she is in the list of candidates to contest for the Selangor state seat.
“My name is on the list to contest for Hulu Kelang (in the upcoming state elections). But it is up to the Amanah party leadership to decide on the candidate,” she said in a telephone interview.
This revelation comes on the heels of reports that her father Saari would not be defending the seat due to poor health.
The three-term assemblyman later told StarMetro he had already announced his decision to the Amanah and Pakatan Harapan leadership.
Saari said he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and had offered to give way to other candidates.
Saari is Gombak Amanah division head and Selangor Amanah deputy chief while Anfaal is Gombak Amanah women’s wing chief and Amanah women’s wing deputy head.
Anfaal, 44, who is currently a councillor with the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), said she had been focusing on party and social activism work since Amanah was established in August 2015.
“Although I am assigned to MPAJ’s Zone 3, I am familiar with all four zones under the Hulu Kelang constituency.
“I meet the other zone councillors regularly to discuss issues and am active in local community groups.
“As a leader, my father has been fighting for human rights, freedom and constituency matters. He left a good impact on the constituency and I hope to continue his work,” she said.
A party insider said talk was rife that Amanah secretary-general Datuk Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli was also vying for the Hulu Kelang state seat.
Gombak Amanah communications director Syazmir Hariz Noorazalan, 30, said those vying for the Hulu Kelang seat would have big shoes to fill because Saari’s focus was on community and nature.
“Known as ‘Pak Abu’ to his supporters, Saari built and upgraded close to 14 futsal courts. He also built a skate park.
“As a nature lover, he also created up to seven herbal gardens in his constituency. Some of these can be seen in Kemensah and around Keramat,” said Syazmir.
On Saari’s decision not to defend his Hulu Kelang seat in the upcoming state polls, Syazmir said it was about time the statesman took a rest.
“Pak Abu wanted to withdraw as early as 2014 when he was still with PAS but following worries that a new name may disturb the party’s position, he carried on,” said Syazmir.
On talks of Dr Mohd Hatta’s interest in the seat, Syazmir said he feels that he would not be fielded.
“Even from as far back as GE14 in 2018, Hatta had wanted to take a break and more so now as his wife’s health is not too good.
“What I am sure of is, the party will not field any heavyweights in the state polls and that candidates will most likely be locals,” he said.
As for Anfaal’s possible candidacy, Syazmir said owing to her seniority in Amanah, he believed her chances were good.
When contacted, Selangor Amanah chief Izham Hashim did not want to reveal any names as yet.
However, he said the party has shortlisted three good candidates of which one was a woman.
“We have many candidates suitable for the seat or any other seats for that matter,” he said.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari had reportedly said the state assembly was set to dissolve automatically on June 25 if there was no request to dissolve it earlier.
Saari said he will not defend his seat due to poor health.
Izham says one female and two male candidates have been shortlisted for the Hulu Kelang seat.
Anfaal says her father Saari left a good impact on the constituency and is keen to continue his work.
