JOHOR BARU: Maintaining the high standard of service synonymous with the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub will be the top priority for Suhaizan Kaiat (pic), the person chosen to fill the former minister’s shoes in the Pulai parliamentary seat.
Suhaizan, who is a former Johor Assembly speaker, will contest the seat as a Pakatan Harapan candidate in a by-election that was triggered by the death of Salahuddin last month.
“I am grateful to the party for giving me the chance to defend the Pulai seat and trusting me to continue Salahuddin’s legacy,” Suhaizan told reporters yesterday.
“Salahuddin had always set a high standard for all of his officers and wanted us to work hard in serving the people the same way he did,” he said when met at a Sara Hidup Outreach programme here.
“It is important that we maintain his legacy, especially his service to the people of Pulai. I hope to be able to do this,” he said.
Suhaizan, who had been Salahuddin’s political secretary, has deep roots in Pulai, an urban seat of about 106,000 voters that borders the state’s capital, Johor Baru.
Suhaizan has headed the Pulai Amanah division since it was formed in 2015. Amanah is part of the Pakatan coalition.
Prior to him joining Amanah, Suhaizan helmed the Pulai PAS division since 2008.
Under Salahuddin, Suhaizan also headed the Pulai parliamentary service centre.
“Even when I was a state speaker, I still continued serving the people of Pulai and many people in the area know me. I believe this will help my chances of winning the seat,” he said.
Suhaizan is undaunted despite the fact that he has lost in many previous elections.
“This is the second time I am contesting a parliamentary seat and the seventh time contesting in general.
“For me, not winning any election is not an issue as I am still young and there is always room to try again. As long as I am given the opportunity, I will try,” he said.Suhaizan said he contested for the first time in 2004 for the Parit Sulong state seat and later, the Kempas state seat in 2008.
In 2013, he contested both the Kempas state seat and the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat while in 2018, he was fielded in the Kukup state seat. In the Johor state election last year, he contested the Pulai Sebatang seat.
While announcing Suhaizan for the Pulai by-election, Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu also announced that Bakri Amanah deputy chief Nazri Abdul Rahman will contest the Simpang Jeram state seat, which had also been vacated due to Salahuddin’s death.
Suhaizan, 50, is a computer science graduate who is also the Johor Amanah vice-chairman.
Nomination day for the Simpang Jeram state seat and Pulai parliamentary by-elections have been set for Aug 26. Polling will be on Sept 9 while early voting is on Sept 5.
Salahuddin, who was the elected representative for both seats, died on July 23 due to a brain haemorrhage. He was 61. He was also the Amanah deputy president and had served as the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister.
