Titiwangsa - rat race between Amanah and Muda for seat in KL

 

In the crowded dog-eat-dog urban sprawl that is Kuala Lumpur, it’s not just the average Joe fighting for a place to work or stay.

With just 11 parliamentary seats - plus one in Putrajaya as part of the Federal Territories - parties that are in coalitions must also hustle to get a seat to contest.

This is especially so in Pakatan Harapan, where DAP has already firmly established itself in five seats in KL over decades, while PKR has a firm footing in another five.

This leaves just one seat available for Amanah - Titiwangsa.

The party had previously eyed Titiwangsa for the 2018 general election but had to give it up to Bersatu despite all its groundwork.

Fast forward to today, another challenger has emerged to vie for Titiwangsa under Harapan’s umbrella - the youth party Muda.

The Malaysian Insight reported on Sunday that Muda’s Federal Territories chapter was indeed eyeing the seat and even had a potential candidate lined up, 41-year-old Siti Rahayu Baharin (above, right).

Muda is not officially a member of Harapan but the party is set to enter an electoral pact with the coalition for the 15th general election.

When contacted, Amanah secretary-general Hatta Ramli - who is also the party’s Federal Territories chief - was tightlipped on Harapan’s stance on Titiwangsa.

"Wait for the announcement," he said.

Hatta also brushed off Muda's bid for Tititwangsa, saying it was ok if they wanted to volunteer to contest there.

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had said that his party will respect the negotiation process with Harapan and delay announcing their candidates.

Simmering discontent

Hatta was previously considered to be Amanah's candidate for Titiwangsa in 2018.

When the party surrendered the seat to Bersatu, Hatta reportedly tried to resign as Amanah's Federal Territories chief.

Ultimately, he was fielded in Lumut, Perak, where he won with a slim 400-vote majority.

This is not the first time that Amanah and Muda are targeting the same seat.

In the Johor state election, the Puteri Wangsa seat previously contested by Bersatu was initially allocated to Amanah.

The non-Malay majority seat is considered a sure win for the opposition.

However, negotiations prior to nomination day saw Amanah relinquishing the seat to Muda - which the latter won.

During the Amanah Youth congress in September, the party’s youth wing also expressed veiled jealousy at Muda and said that it too wants “Grade-A” winnable seats.

However, unlike Puteri Wangsa - Titiwangsa might be anyone’s game.

In 2018, Harapan-Bersatu won the seat with just 47 percent of the popular vote. BN received 39 percent of the votes and PAS, 13 percent.

Bersatu will likely take a number of voters along with them to be bolstered by PAS and, with an influx of new voters thanks to automatic registration, there is no certainty who will win Titiwangsa. - Mkini