In Hulu Kelang, Anfaal may be Harapan’s pick to replace ailing father

 

Incumbent Hulu Kelang assemblyperson’s daughter, Anfaal Saari, is expected to become Pakatan Harapan’s choice to replace her father, Saari Sungib, in the upcoming state election in Selangor.

According to sources, Anfaal has been named to represent Amanah to contest the seat, considered a safe seat for Harapan. Anfaal is the vice chief of the party’s women’s wing.

However, sources cautioned that the decision is only considered final once it is announced by Harapan’s top leadership - possibly its chairperson Anwar Ibrahim himself - soon.

Saari held the Hulu Kelang seat since winning it under the PAS ticket during the 2008 general election when the party was part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition before he became an Amanah member.

The election also saw the reins of power in Selangor change hands from BN to Pakatan.

At his last election in 2018, Saari defended the seat as an Amanah and Harapan candidate by garnering 25,746 votes – a margin of 15,349 votes over his closest contender Ismail Ahmad (BN).

The PAS candidate Kamalulhysham Mohd Suhut, meanwhile, only secured 7,573 votes.

However, sources said Saari, 65, has expressed his wish to no longer defend the Hulu Kelang seat. Among other reasons, this is because his ailing health is hindering his duties as an assemblyperson.

“Saari said that he is no longer as quick or as agile as he once was especially between 2008 and 2015, and this was informed to the Gombak Amanah (division),” a source told Malaysiakini.

The source also claimed that, even as early as 2013, Saari had said he is no longer eligible to become an election candidate again and considered himself a liability to Amanah and Harapan.

“This time, there is a huge possibility that Saari’s daughter would defend the seat on behalf of Amanah and the state government,” the source said.

Meanwhile, when contacted by Malaysiakini, Saari urged all parties to wait for an official announcement to confirm candidates for all 56 state constituencies in Selangor.

Hulu Kelang is one of three state constituencies under the Gombak parliamentary constituency, the other two being Sungai Tua and Gombak Setia.