Traitor Label May Stand In Azmin S Way As Next Selangor Mb Says Analyst

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Azmin Ali is a favourite to retain the Bukit Antarabangsa state seat in Selangor, having been elected as its assemblyman since 2008.PETALING JAYA: Despite his defeat in the 15th general election (GE15), Azmin Ali still has what it takes to be put forward as Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) candidate for Selangor menteri besar, says an analyst.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the former Gombak MP has influence and credibility, when compared to other PN leaders and several from Umno who appear set to be poached by PN in an effort to win over Selangor in the coming state election.
Among the Umno leaders rumoured to be joining PN is former Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar, a party veteran who was dropped from Barisan Nasional’s (BN) final lineup for GE15.
On Nov 20, Noh resigned as Selangor Umno chief after announcing that he had lost confidence in the leadership of party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi following BN’s poor showing in GE15.
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Azmi said the “anti-president” Umno leader did not perform very well in the last two general elections.
“In addition, the pro-Zahid camp in Umno and BN will cooperate with Pakatan Harapan (for the coming state election), thus the anti-Zahid group would not make a significant impact by helping PN,” he told FMT.
He said it would only make it clear that the anti-Zahid group is in cahoots with PN and this would be used by the pro-Zahid faction to expel them from Umno.
Azmi said that if Azmin were to throw his hat into the ring, PN might be able to wrest Selangor from PH as he was a former menteri besar.
In GE15, PN managed to win six parliamentary seats in Selangor – Sabak Bernam, Sungai Besar, Hulu Selangor, Tanjong Karang, Kapar and Kuala Langat. PH won 16 seats.
In the Selangor state assembly, Bersatu has four seats – Bukit Antarabangsa (Azmin), Gombak Setia (Hilman Idham), Selat Klang (Abdul Rashid Asari) and Dengkil (Adhif Syan Abdullah. PAS has one seat (Sijangkang).
Azmi said Azmin is predicted to retain Bukit Antarabangsa as he is synonymous with the constituency, having been elected as its representative since 2008.
“Bukit Antarabangsa best suits Azmin as it is a Malay-majority constituency and its voters elect its leaders based on the best choice for the area,” he said.
In the recent general election, Azmin lost the Gombak parliamentary seat to Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari by a majority of 12,729 votes.
Meanwhile, Mujibu Abd Muis of Universiti Teknologi Mara said while Azmin was seen as PN’s most worthy candidate, the former international trade and industry minister has been marked as a “traitor”.
“The GE15 results in Gombak could be an indicator that Azmin has been rejected in Selangor,” he said.
Mujibu said the Muhyiddin Yassin-led PN coalition, which fared well in GE15, should not take the battle for Selangor too lightly as the narrative for forming state and federal governments was different.
“BN and PH working together for the coming state election would even out the playing field between them and PN,” he said. - FMT

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