(From left) Mohd Shukor, Amir Hadi and Abbas Salimi at Dewan Serbaguna MBSJ, Puchong Indah, on nomination day.
HIS assemblyman must work hard and walk the talk, says Marzuki Darus, a retired army personnel from Kampung Sri Aman in Puchong.
The village is located within the Seri Serdang state constituency in Puchong, Selangor, and since its creation in 2003, has seen three assemblymen from three parties.
“I will see who works hard and that person will get my vote,” said Marzuki, 70, when asked about the state polls.
Seri Serdang is also home to Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Rasau Hikir in Batu 14, Puchong. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Judging from previous election results, some believe Seri Serdang could be a swing seat.
“We are not loyal to any party or person. What we want is action,’’ said Kalthom Som, 60, a goreng pisang seller from Bandar Bukit Puchong.
“I have voted for all three candidates, from Umno, PAS and Amanah previously.
“My vote will go to the one that works hard and gets things done,’’ added the mother of six.
In the 2018 General Election, incumbent Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud from Amanah won with a total of 27,088 votes against Datuk Mohamad Satim Diman from BN-Umno (12,725) and Nor Hanim Ismail from PAS (5,552).
Incidentally, all three were once Seri Serdang incumbents.
Kampung Sri Aman is one of the traditional Malay villages in Seri Serdang.
For the Aug 12 state polls, fresh faces will be contesting: Abbas Salimi Azmi, 43, from Pakatan Harapan-Amanah, Amir Abd Hadi, 32 (Muda), and Mohd Shukor Mustaffa, 54, from Perikatan Nasional-Bersatu.
Among the three candidates, Abbas Salimi has experience working in the area by virtue of him being a Subang Jaya city councillor overseeing Zone 12.
“As councillor, I was put in charge of all seven traditional Malay villages.
“We have been working hard to uplift the lives of residents there,” he said, adding that some 12,000 people live in the villages.
Abbas Salimi said he was also involved in improving the waste management system in the area, as well as helping small-time traders get business licences.
Muda’s candidate Amir Hadi is the party’s founding member and secretary-general.
A local boy, born and bred in Seri Kembangan, Amir Hadi is a Chevening scholar and holds an MSc from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
He described the seat as “uncharted territory”.
“In terms of demographics, it is predominantly Malay, with a balanced gender ratio.
“Significantly, over 30% of the electorate are young voters, who can potentially infuse a fresh perspective into the political scenario.
“As for voters’ sentiments, it is an entirely new landscape, given the current political climate and the increasing desire among the populace for change,’’ he said.
He added that better administration and infrastructure were needed.
“We envision a clean and systematic approach.
“We aim to address both national and local issues, with the aim of improving the lives of our constituents and leading Malaysia towards a brighter future,” said Amir Hadi.
Perikatan’s Mohd Shukor is a businessman and Puchong Bersatu division chief.
“I have been around here since 1986 and I know every inch of this area.
“The issues I am looking at are the too many tolls and high charges as well as traffic and flood,” he said.
The Seri Serdang seat is one of two under the Puchong parliamentary constituency.
It comprises Serdang Jaya 1, Seri Serdang Utara, UPM area, Kampung Sri Aman, Batu 14 Puchong, Bandar Bukit Puchong, Taman Puchong Utama, Taman Pinggiran Putra, Serdang Jaya 2, Kampung Batu 13, Seri Indah.
There are 93,235 registered voters.
