Flag wars in Taman Sri Gombak. – ART CHEN/The Star
INCUMBENT Muhammad Hilman Idham from Perikatan Nasional will be hoping voters in Gombak Setia will give him another shot despite him having switched parties since the 14th General Election.
Hilman and Perikatan are banking on campaign ads on social media to appeal to voters, especially youths.
Local Muhammad Aliff Daniel, 19, a regular TikTok user, said he came across many campaign ads from Perikatan on the platform.
“I hardly see any from Barisan Nasional. This might have an influence on the voting patterns among youths like me,” he said.
But not all Gombak Setia voters are swayed by the ads.
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On Twitter, Hani Nayra wrote that her family, who are Pakatan Harapan supporters, was considering throwing their support behind Barisan.
“They understand that the coalition is part of the unity government and that Pakatan and Barisan supporters will have to work together,” she added.
(From left) Megat Zulkarnain, Hilman and Mohamed Salim at SMK Sungai Pusu, Gombak on nomination day. – AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
Hilman will face Barisan’s Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin and an Independant candidate in the upcoming polls.
Hilman and Megat Zulkarnain have faced off before in GE14.
Hilman, who stood as Pakatan Harapan-PKR candidate then, beat Megat Zulkarnain and a PAS candidate in a three-cornered fight.
But in 2020, Hilman, who was also Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s political secretary, left PKR to join Perikatan’s Bersatu.
Megat Zulkarnain, who is Selangor Umno chairman, has been driving home the fact that he was born in Gombak Setia.
“As a local, I know the issues faced by the communities in the area,” he told a daily recently.
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Hilman, meanwhile, drew attention to waste management and frequent breakdown of water pipes in the area.
Muhammad Aliff says campaign ads on social media may have an impact among young voters.
In a recent interview, he also highlighted the issue of community hall privatisation.
“Take Dewan Beringin in Taman Sri Gombak. Its rental rose from RM500 to RM4,000 after it was privatised,” he was quoted as saying.
Independent candidate Mohamed Salim Mohamed Ali, 54, who is also chairman of non-profit Semboyan Anak Jati Gombak Setia, is focusing on cost of living, access to education and affordable housing issues.
“During the movement control order, my non-profit group worked tirelessly to distribute necessities to the needy.
“As someone who is not affiliated with any party, I see things differently and am better able to relate to the community,” he said.
On Aug 3, Megat Zulkarnain received a boost to his campaign thanks to MCA, a Barisan component party.
Its president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong endorsed Megat Zulkarnain and urged the Chinese community to cast their vote for him.
“Megat Zulkarnain’s sound grasp of public administration and local issues gives him an advantage,” he said during a ceramah in Taman Sri Gombak.
As of 2018, Gombak Setia’s racial demographic comprises Malays (76%), Chinese (11%), Indians (9%) and others (3%).
Gombak Setia first fell from Barisan’s grip in 1999 to PAS.
In 2004, Barisan recaptured the seat before PAS wrested it back and held it for two terms.
In 2018, the seat went to PKR’s Hilman.
