GOMBAK: Azmin Ali, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for Hulu Kelang, is confident he can win the seat with the strong support from voters here.
The Selangor PN chief told reporters outside the SK Klang Gate polling station that he expects the unofficial results to be released by 8pm.
“I am optimistic about the support in Hulu Kelang. I expect the voter turnout to be very high,” he said of the seat he won in the 1999 general elections for PKR.
Pressed further on his chances, the former Selangor menteri besar said: “I have to win.”
Azmin is up against Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Juwairiya Zulkifli, who is the deputy Wanita PKR chief and aide to caretaker Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari.
Azmin arrived at SK Klang Gate at 8.50am with his wife, Shamshida Taharin.
He was also seen accompanying a woman on a wheelchair to the polling station, where voters had started gathering as early as 7am.
Among them was his celebrity brother, Azwan Ali, who claimed that Azmin’s political career would come to an end if he lost in today’s election.
A former PKR deputy president, Azmin played a prominent role in the Sheraton Move that resulted in the collapse of the PH government in February 2020.
His candidacy in Hulu Kelang followed months of speculation that the former minister would not defend his Bukit Antarabangsa seat, which he had represented for three terms since 2008.
Especially after he lost the Gombak seat in the 15th general election (GE15) last November. Amirudin defeated Azmin with a 12,729-vote majority in the parliamentary seat.
In February, Azmin said he was taking a break from politics and, in May, he said he had no plans to contest the Selangor state election.
But today, he told reporters: “I’m happy and excited to be back in Hulu Kelang, which is where I was first given a mandate. I’m excited to work with and serve them (the residents).
“The people in Hulu Kelang want a change in Selangor. There is a wave of discontent, not only in Selangor, but also throughout the country.
“Based on the support we received at our ceramahs and on the campaign trail, I’m confident we will secure a huge win in Hulu Kelang and win many seats in Selangor. God willing, we will form a new state government tonight.”
PH had 40 seats (PKR 19, DAP 15, and Amanah six) and Barisan Nasional five before the dissolution of the 56-seat state assembly on June 23.
PN held five seats (Bersatu with four, and PAS with one), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) two, and Pejuang and Warisan one each. There was also one independent representative.
The Batang Kali seat was declared vacant after Pejuang’s Harumaini Omar failed to attend the state assembly for more than six months. - FMT
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