Pundits’ take on hot seats

 

All eyes are on former PKR leaders Azmin Ali in Gombak and Zuraida Kamaruddin in Ampang, and Umno’s Khairy Jamaluddin in Sungai Buloh.

PETALING JAYA: While 221 seats are up for grabs today, some will be of greater interest than others.

Having been labelled as “traitors” and “frogs”, the 15th general election will show if MPs who defected from their parties in the Sheraton Move have taken a leap too far and lose their seats.

These include former allies Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin, who were the MPs for Gombak and Ampang, respectively.

FMT takes a look at another 10 key seats, with analysts Azmi Hassan of Akademi
Nusantara, Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya weighing in on the likely winners.

(From left) Azmi Hassan, Oh Ei Sun and Awang Azman Pawi.

• GOMBAK

Azmin Ali, one of the main players in the Sheraton Move, is seeking to win the Gombak seat for a fourth term, this time under a PN ticket. His main rival for the seat is former PKR ally Amirudin Shari, the Selangor menteri besar. There are also candidates from BN, Pejuang and an independent.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: 50-50 between PH and PN.
Oh: PH.
Awang Azman: PH.

• SUNGAI BULOH

With three-term MP R Sivarasa out of the race, PH has tasked former MIC man R Ramanan to retain the seat. His biggest opponent will be former Rembau MP and caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin. The other challengers are from Pejuang, Parti Rakyat Malaysia, PN and two independents.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: 50-50 between BN and PH.
Oh: 50-50 between BN and PH.
Awang Azman: BN.

• LARUT

PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin won the seat under an Umno ticket for two terms before joining Bersatu. The home minister will be challenged by Umno’s Shafiq Fhadly Mahmud. They will be involved in a four-cornered fight.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: 50-50 between PN and BN
Oh: BN.
Awang Azman: BN.

• INDERA MAHKOTA

Foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah is in a four-cornered contest to defend the seat he won on a PH ticket in GE14. He joined Bersatu in 2020 after the Sheraton Move. His challengers are BN’s Quek Tai Seong, PH’s Zuraifi Ismail and Pejuang’s Dr Mohamad Nor Sundari.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: PN.
Oh: PH.
Awang Azman: PH.

• SIBU

Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president Wong Soon Koh is seeking to wrest the seat from two-term MP Oscar Ling from PH. Wong has served as the assemblyman for Bawang Assan, a state constituency in Sibu, for over 30 years. Also vying for the seat is GPS’ Clarence Ting.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: PH.
Oh: PH.
Awang Azman: 50-50 between PSB and GPS.

• AMPANG

Three-term Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin faces eight others in the seat she won under PH. After the Sheraton Move, she joined Bersatu only to quit the party and join Parti Bangsa Malaysia. The other contenders include candidates from PH, BN, Warisan, PN and three independents.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: PH.
Oh: PH.
Awang Azman: PH.

• SEPANG

Leaving Titiwangsa after just one term, PN’s Rina Harun has set her sights on the Sepang seat against seven others, including contenders from PH, BN, Pejuang and four independents. Defending the seat for PH is Aiman Athirah, who replaces former MP Hanipa Maidin.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: PN.
Oh: PH.
Awang Azman: PH.

• SIMPANG RENGGAM

Former education minister Maszlee Malik is defending the seat he won for PH in GE14. After the Sheraton Move, he was sacked by Bersatu and eventually joined PKR. He is facing BN heavyweight and former Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohamad, PN’s newcomer Fazrul Kamat and Pejuang’s Kamal Kusmin.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: PH and BN.
Oh: 50-50 between PH and BN,
Awang Azman: BN.

• KUALA NERUS

Former PAS leader Khairuddin Aman Razali is defending his seat for a third term, but this time on a BN ticket. Earlier this year, Khairuddin quit PAS, purportedly over the party’s decision to stick with Bersatu. He faces candidates from PN, PH and Pejuang.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: 50-50 between BN and PN.
Oh: 50-50 between BN and PN.
Awang Azman: BN.

• BATU

The seat sees a 10-cornered fight, the highest for a parliamentary seat. Former PKR vice-president turned independent Tian Chua will go up against former fellow party member P Prabakaran. There are also candidates from BN, PN, Pejuang, Warisan, PRM and four other independents.

Analysts’ verdict:

Azmi: PH.
Oh: 50-50 between Tian Chua and PH.
Awang Azman: PH.

-FMT