SEREMBAN: Having been away from active politics for the past 15 years is not going to put Barisan Nasional’s Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid at a disadvantage if she faces Perikatan Nasional’s biggest name in the Aug 12 state polls.
Bibi Sharliza, who will be contesting in Barisan’s stronghold of Juasseh, is also unperturbed that her opponent is Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith, the former Kuala Pilah MP and state Perikatan chief.
“I am also from Kuala Pilah, and despite being away from active politics for some time, I have always been in touch with the constituents there.
“I have been the Wanita chairman of a branch in Kuala Pilah ever since, and have also been working actively with two NGOs in the area,” she said when met at Wisma Umno here yesterday.
In the 2018 polls, Barisan’s Datuk Ismail Lasim won the seat in a three-cornered fight with a majority of 692 votes against candidates from Pakatan Harapan and PAS.
Bibi Sharliza, who is now state Wanita Umno chief, last served as Paroi assemblyman from 2004 to 2008, and is the wife of Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, who served as Negri Sembilan mentri besar for 22 years until 2004.
Bibi Sharliza said she knew her constituents well and there were many who went to school with her.
“I am looking forward to a healthy campaign and I hope there will be no personal attacks against me,” she said.
Asked if her husband’s corruption case could work against her, Bibi Sharliza said it should not.
“I have nothing to do with that as it doesn’t involve me.
“I hope my opponents would not get personal and rather look at what I do for the people of Juasseh,” she said, adding that she too could launch personal attacks against others, but would refrain from doing so.
Mohd Isa was appointed chairman of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) in January 2011.
On Feb 3, 2021, he was convicted of nine corruption charges involving RM3mil over the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) in Kuching, Sarawak.
The High Court allowed a stay of execution of the sentence pending his appeal, which is scheduled on Oct 16.
Bibi Sharliza said Juasseh was a rural constituency and her focus will be the young people and women who needed guidance and assistance to progress.
“There are many traditional kampungs in Juasseh, and we need to look into the well-being of the people and the economic activities that can be carried out here.”
