Kluang Umno division chief Datuk Md Jais Sarday (right) unveiling Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah (middle) and Zainani Jamaluddin (left) as the two individuals that have been shortlisted as the division candidate for the Mahkota by-election during the launched of Amanah machinery in Kluang, Johor on Thursday night (Sept 5).
KLUANG: Two names have emerged as front runners for Barisan Nasional’s candidate for Johor’s Mahkota state seat by-election on Sept 28.
They are Kluang Umno youth chief Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah and the division’s Wanita wing vice-chief Zainani Jamaluddin, with both having significant support from the division.
However, according to a party source, Zainani seems to have the edge over Syed Hussein as the Mahkota seat “quota” is meant for the Umno Wanita wing.
“Furthermore, over 49% of the 66,318 registered voters in the Mahkota state seat are women. So, it is likely that Barisan will field Zainani.
“In fact, during the Johor state election held some two years ago, the late Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain was the only woman candidate in a four-cornered fight, and she won by more than 5,000 votes,” the source said.
The source also added that Zainani, a 47-year-old mother of three, rose through the ranks in the division from its Puteri wing before entering the Wanita wing.
“She has held important positions in the Kluang Umno division, from being its Puteri chief and now at her current position as Wanita vice-chief.
“This shows that Zainani will get good support from the division’s two wings and its machinery for the Mahkota by-election to defend the seat for Barisan,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Johor DAP vice-chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said Kluang Umno division chief Datuk Md Jais Sarday has revealed that both Zainani and Syed Hussein are on the Barisan shortlist.
He added that Md Jais made the announcement on Thursday during Amanah’s launch of its machinery by Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu for the Mahkota by-election.
“All state Pakatan Harapan leaders were invited and so was Md Jais, who brought Syed Hussein and Zainani along to the launch of Amanah’s machinery,” he said.
“During his speech, Jais invited both of them up to the stage as individuals that have been shortlisted by the Kluang Umno division for consideration by their party’s central leadership as a candidate in the by-election,” added Sheikh Umar.
He said his party would support whoever Barisan picked and expressed confidence that the cooperation between Barisan and Pakatan would ensure victory in Mahkota.
The Mahkota seat became vacant when incumbent Sharifah Azizah passed away on Aug 2, three days after she was hospitalised.
Sharifah Azizah won the seat in the March 2022 Johor state election with a 5,166-vote majority, beating candidates from Perikatan Nasional, Pakatan and Parti Warisan.
Nomination day for the upcoming by-election is on Sept 14.
