State polls: 3 Selangor excos not defending seats

Three Selangor executive councillors will not be defending their seats in the upcoming state elections to make way for younger faces and to concentrate on other tasks.

According to Utusan Malaysia, the trio is Teng Chang Kim (exco for Investment, Trade, and Industry), Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (exco for Public Health, Unity, Women Empowerment, and Family), and V Ganabatirau (exco for Social Welfare and Employee Empowerment).

The former two are reportedly not contesting in the state polls due to the age factor while Ganabatirau (above, right) wants to concentrate on his duty as a parliamentarian since being elected as Klang MP in the last general election.

Teng (above, left), of DAP, has served four terms as assemblyperson in Bukit Gasing, Bandar Klang, Sungai Pinang, and Bandar Baru Klang, while Amanah’s Siti Mariah was a three-term MP for the Kota Raja seat and a single-term assemblyperson for the Seri Serdang state seat.

Ganabatirau, who is also from DAP, meanwhile, was a former representative of the Kota Alam Shah state seat and the incumbent of the Kota Kemuning seat.

Selangor Harapan deputy chairperson Borhan Aman Shah told the Malay daily that he would not rule out more representatives stepping down to make way for others, as the state poll nears.

“So far, Teng and Siti Mariah have confirmed that they will not contest. Others may be thinking the same but may be leaving it to their respective parties to decide on their candidacies,” he said.

According to him further, Harapan will field new faces, including female candidates, in the polls expected to be held next month.

Concentrate on Parliament

Meanwhile, Ganabatirau confirmed with Utusan that he will not be contesting in the Selangor state poll as he wants to concentrate on the Klang parliamentary seat he won in the 15th general election (GE15).

“Since I won in Klang, I informed the party that I had already served two terms as an assemblyperson and exco member. These stints have given me enough experience to focus on federal issues.

“Although I will not be defending my seat, I told my party that the Kota Kemuning seat must be contested by another candidate from DAP,” he said.

V Ganabatirau

It is worth noting that Ganabatirau is not the only Selangor leader who made it to the federal level in GE15.

Others who made the jump include caretaker Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari (PKR) and state Housing, Urban Wellbeing and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairperson Rodziah Ismail (PKR), who won the Gombak and Ampang parliamentary seats, respectively.

Also included in the list are incumbent Taman Templer assemblyperson Mohd Sany Hamzan (Amanah), who won the Hulu Langat parliamentary seat, and incumbent Sijangkang representative Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PAS), who got elected as Kuala Langat MP in GE15. - Mkini