KLANG: Selangor will be the most watched of the six states having elections within the next two months as the battle is expected to be an intense one.
Political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian reckoned Malaysia's most developed and prosperous state will become the arena for a tough battle between Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.
"Observers will be looking to see if the Malay voting pattern during the last general election will also be prevalent in the state election in Selangor," he said.
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There are about 34 Malay-majority seats out of the 56 state constituencies in Selangor.
Dr Sivamurugan believed that certain quarters would use race, religion and royalty as the pivotal campaign strategy in the polls in Selangor to garner grassroots votes.
"Issues raised will also revolve around the high cost of living and the big debts incurred by the younger generation," he added.
The Selangor Legislative Assembly was officially dissolved on Friday (June 23), which means that all of Selangor's 56 state assembly seats have fallen vacant.
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Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari is now the state's caretaker mentri besar and will be in that position until a new leader is sworn in after the upcoming state polls.
The proclamation of the dissolution was signed by Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on Monday (June 19).
Besides Selangor, five other states – Penang, Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu – will be facing elections within the next two months.
