Muaz: The 25-year-old is the youngest candidate in the state.
ALOR SETAR: The battle for Kedah’s 15 parliamentary seats will not be confined to a fight between the three big coalitions – Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.
The presence of new boys on the block, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, chaired by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, cannot be taken lightly in this Malay heartland.
The party is eyeing all parliamentary seats in Kedah except Pokok Sena and Sik.
Leading the party into the battle is Dr Mahathir, who will be defending his seat and seeking his 10th term as MP and second in Langkawi.
The 97-year-old former prime minister will face Datuk Armishah Siraj of Barisan, Datuk Suhaimi Abdullah (Perikatan), Zabidi Yahya (Pakatan) and independent candidate Datuk Abdul Kadir Sainudin in a five-cornered battle.
Armishah, who was a private secretary to three Kedah mentris besar, is aware of the tough road ahead to wrest the seat for Barisan but remains positive the winds of change will favour him.
“All this while, Langkawi has been a ‘safe deposit’ for Barisan but we suffered a setback in 2018. But I believe the mandate will return.
“One thing for sure is that I will work hard and the rest I will let the people decide,” he told The Star recently.
Another big name from Pejuang is Dr Mahathir’s son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, who is also the party president.
He will be defending Jerlun – the seat he won twice, first under Barisan in 2008 and again in 2018 for Pakatan.
Standing in his path is Barisan hopeful Datuk Othman Aziz, 63, who will be out to avenge his loss to Mukhriz in GE14.
Another notable candidate from Pejuang is its secretary-general Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, who will be defending his Kubang Pasu seat in a four-cornered fight.
The contest in Kedah is a crowded one, with a total of 71 candidates, including four independents.
Except for Sik which will host a three-cornered fight, the rest have four contenders canvassing for support and votes.
Pakatan’s incumbent Kuala Kedah MP Dr Azman Ismail said GE15 would see another wave of change that would favour his coalition.
“Issues like mismanagement of governance by Barisan and Perikatan, corruption and the high cost of living will give us the advantage,” he said.
Pakatan’s Muaz Abdullah, the youngest candidate in the state at 25, is unfazed at facing some of the big names in Padang Terap.
He will be up against Barisan’s incumbent Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, who is an Umno vice-president, Nurul Amin Hamid (Perikatan) and Razali Lebai Salleh (Pejuang).
“Winning over the 13,000 voters aged between 18 and 20 in this seat is crucial. There are also fence-sitters whose votes are crucial in determining the outcome.
“Pakatan can produce an upset if we can manage that. God willing, we can do well this time,” said the Amanah candidate, who hails from Kampung Kubang Julok.
Muaz, however, admitted that upstaging Mahdzir would not be easy as the former Cabinet minister is a big personality in Padang Terap.
Barisan, still reeling from the heavy defeat in GE14, hopes to bounce back this time.
The party suffered heavy losses, only to have won in Padang Terap where Mahdzir stood and Baling through Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Rahim, who will be defending his seat.
For GE15, Barisan is fielding 13 candidates from Umno, one each from MCA and MIC. Nine of them are first-timers while four are women.
Kedah Umno youth information chief Syed Mohd Johan Rizal Syed Unan Mashri believes that Barisan has a fair chance with 60% of its candidates being new faces.
“Our line-up comprises professionals, religious leaders and also some party veterans.
“Umno and Barisan Nasional are synonymous with stability and the people know this. Hopefully, this will favour us in the general election,” he said.
MCA’s sole candidate, Tan Chee Hiong, has been entrusted to recapture the Alor Setar seat which was held by Pakatan for the past two terms.
Tan, a 43-year-old businessman, believes the party has a good fighting chance as the people have realised who can provide them with the best service.
“Based on feedback on the ground over the past four years, the public has expressed that they want to change. Those in Alor Setar also want a local to represent them,” he said.
Kedah is a swing state, judging from the four previous general elections. Who will get the voters endorsement this time around is anyone’s guess.
Muaz: The 25-year-old is the youngest candidate in the state.
Armishah: He was a private secretary to three Kedah MBs.
Tan: The sole MCA candidate entrusted to recapture Alor Setar.
Azman: Pakatan’s incumbent for Kuala Kedah to defend his seat.
