Gerakan Bersatu Competing To Field Malay Candidate In Kuala Kubu Baharu

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Gerakan’s Muniraa Abu Bakar and Bersatu’s Khairul Azhari Saut are said to be among PN’s potential candidates for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.PETALING JAYA: Bersatu and Gerakan are seen to be competing to represent Perikatan Nasional in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election on May 11 by each lobbying to field a Malay candidate.
Both parties are out to garner the support of the community, which makes up the majority in the Selangor state constituency.
According to a PN source, Gerakan wants to field Muniraa Abu Bakar, who previously contested the Bukit Lanjan seat in the state election in August. She was defeated by Pakatan Harapan’s Pua Pei Ling by a 41,227-vote majority.
In the August polls, Gerakan candidate Henry Teoh lost in the Kuala Kubu Baharu seat to DAP’s Lee Kee Hiong by a 4,119-vote majority. Lee, who had held the seat since 2013, died last month after a battle with cancer.
The source said Bersatu is proposing to field Hulu Selangor acting chief Khairul Azhari Saut for the by-election.
It is learnt that PAS, which currently holds the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat as well as the Hulu Bernam state seat, will be sitting out of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
“It’s common practice for all component parties of the coalition (PN) to propose their own candidates to the top leadership. However, Muniraa and Khairul are currently the top picks.
“Many factors are considered by the top leadership before making a decision, including the sentiments of the electorate as well as the racial demographics,” the source said, adding that PN will only announce its candidate a few days before nominations on April 27.
There are 40,226 eligible voters in the by-election, comprising 50% Malays, 30% Chinese and 18% Indians.
It has also been speculated that racial demographics will influence Pakatan Harapan’s decision to field a Malay candidate to defend the seat.
When contacted, Muniraa confirmed that she heard she had been nominated by the party, but stressed that further talks were being held by the PN top leadership.
She said PN wanted a Malay candidate but no decision had been made yet.
Khairul, who is from Hulu Selangor but now resides in Bukit Beruntung, declined to comment.
“I’m not on the committee that decides on the candidate. Let’s wait for the official announcement,” he said. - FMT

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