NGO president to run in Pulai as independent candidate

Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association president Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi has become the first individual to offer to stand as an independent candidate in the Pulai parliamentary by-election next month.

Samsudin (above), who also contested the Putrajaya parliamentary seat in the 15th general election as an independent, said he aims to bring the voice of NGOs to Parliament if elected.

The 47-year-old decided to throw his hat into the ring after seeing more focus given on positions rather than people’s issues after GE15.

“I feel the need to have an NGO that brings the people’s voice to Parliament, to convey what is happening to the people because we are directly involved in dealing with various consumer issues. We listen to people’s grievances every day.

“I have been commuting to Pulai for three weeks now to collect data, and I have seen many people who are struggling, for example, with the rising prices of goods,” he told Bernama today.

Not looking to divide votes

The Kluang-born said he chose to stand as an independent candidate because he did not want to be bound by any political party.

“I’m not here to divide the votes. I want the people to understand that choosing an independent will not disrupt the government’s stability. I’m offering them a chance to determine whether they wish to step up as consumer advocates or not. The decision rests with them.

“However, the people’s voice already exists in Parliament, and I am opening the door for other NGOs to progress further,” he added.

In GE15, Bersatu vice-president Mohd Radzi Md Jidin who contested on a Perikatan Nasional ticket, won the Putrajaya parliamentary seat with a 2,310-vote majority, defeating five challengers including Samsudin and incumbent Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (BN).

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed Aug 26 for nominations, Sept 5 for early voting and Sept 9 for polling for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections.

There are 166,653 eligible voters for Pulai and 40,379 for Simpang Jeram.

It was previously reported that the EC had sold eight nomination forms for both by-elections as of Aug 18.

The two seats fell vacant following the death of the incumbent, the late Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Salahuddin Ayub, on July 23. - Mkini