KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — Just over eight months after the 15th general election (GE15), voters in six states will again enter the election season as campaigning kicks off with Nomination Day today.
Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Penang decided against holding their state elections concurrently with GE15, and their state governments will now seek a fresh mandate as voters re-evaluate their assemblyman after five years on August 12.
For many political observers, the state elections would also serve as the barometer for the popularity of the federal government coalition — dubbed “unity government” — spearheaded by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN), which are the outgoing administrations in Selangor, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan.
On the flip side, the three other states were held by Perikatan Nasional (PN), who narrowly missed the chance to form the federal government.
While many, including those in the unity government, may feel confident that Putrajaya would not change hands even as PN emerge victorious in most or all of the six states, political analysts have warned that it would definitely affect PH and BN’s chances when their term in Dewan Rakyat ends.
This means that choosing winnable candidates is more important than ever if PH and BN wish to achieve the optimum results against a rather formidable opposition.
Unlike the GE15 where incumbents are mostly being retained, the state elections will see a number of overhauls from both sides.
New chances in Kedah
In Kedah, a massive overhaul will see PH’s PKR fielding nine new candidates with only one incumbent being retained, while three others were dropped.
Kedah PKR Information Chief Datuk Zamri Yusuf will defend the Suka Menanti seat while three incumbents, Summugam Rengasamy (Bukit Selambau), Simon Ooi Tze Min (Bakar Arang) and Yeo Keng Chuan (Kulim) have been dropped.
Just as Mohammad Taufiq Johari replaced his father — Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul — as Sungai Petani MP, his brother Firdaus Johari will be fielded for the Gurun state seat, a seat also belonging to Johari.
As for the Kulim seat, Kedah PKR treasurer Teh Lean Ong will be fielded there, while Kedah PKR Wanita wing chief Sabrina Ahmad is to be fielded as a candidate for the Jitra seat.
Fifteen seats will be contested by BN, led by Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
At least 10 new faces, including five women will be joining the battle.
No stranger to the state, Mahdzir who was education minister, was reportedly tipped as the menteri besar candidate for the PH-BN pact, is expected to make a comeback in the Pedu state seat.
BN will field the new Sik Umno division chief Datuk Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim, going against Kedah caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor who is defending the Jeneri state seat.
Kedah PN is expected to retain 13 incumbents while offering 23 new faces, with Sanusi leading PN’s attempt to retain Kedah by contesting all seats.
Only three seats will be contested by non-Malay candidates from Gerakan: Kota Darul Aman, Bakar Arang and Kulim, while PAS will take the bulk of the seats at 21.
Storm in Penang
Over in Penang, a storm seems to be brewing after DAP announced the dropping of five familiar faces including even state executive councillors.
Outgoing Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy was one of those who have been dropped and said he will not campaign for the party on the ground throughout the campaigning period.
According to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, there will be some new faces fielded, some former candidates will retire and some will be dropped. He deemed this is a normal process in any election and expressed hope that the decision will be accepted.
Seven new faces to look out for are Phee Syn Tze who will be contesting in Sungai Puyu — defending her father’s (Phee Boon Poh) seat, Chee Yeeh Keen (Bagan Jermal), K.Krishnan (Bagan Dalam), S. Sundarajoo (Perai), Woo Sze Zeng (Pulau Tikus), Wong Yee Harng (Pengkalan Kota), Tan Hooi Peng (Seri Delima) and Wong Hon Wai (Paya Terubong).
Hon Wai was formerly the Air Itam assemblyman and a state exco between 2008 and 2013. He was the Bukit Bendera MP between 2018 and 2022.
Party chairman Lim Guan Eng will continue to defend his Air Putih state seat which he has held since 2008, while former Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen will be contesting in Padang Lalang this time around, taking over from DAP Wanita chief Chong Eng.
Old versus new in Selangor
While caretaker Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has endorsed to continue his stint, his predecessor Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali will return to contest in Hulu Kelang going against PKR’s Wanita deputy chief Juwairiya Zulkifli, who by observers said was a surprise as the seat was traditionally contested by Parti Amanah Negara and previously by PAS.
Amirudin, despite analysts’ prediction that Selangor may be badly hit by PN, said he is confident that the PH-BN pact can win at least 33 out of the 56 state seats.
He described the 33 constituencies as safe seats for PH, with its partner BN, thus enabling the coalition to form the state government in the coming term.
Some new faces for PH include rapper Altimet (real name Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad) who will contest the Lembah Jaya seat, Phua Lei Lei will replace Elizabeth Wong in Bukit Lankan, Kuala Selangor division chief Thiban Subramaniam will replace Juwairiya in Bukit Melawati and David Cheong will replace Lee Hoy Sian in Kajang.
Similarly for DAP, it will field six new faces who will replace incumbents: Teng Chang Kim (Bandar Baru Klang), Ean Yong Hian Wah (Seri Kembangan), Lau Weng San (Banting), and V Ganabatirau (Kota Kemuning). Incumbents retained are Kinrara’s Ng Sze Han, an executive councillor from the caretaker state government, Subang Jaya representative Michelle Ng Mei Sze, Bukit Gasing’s Rajiv Rishyakaran, Kampung Tunku’s Lim Yi Wei and Bandar Utama’s Jamaliah Jamaluddin.
PN too similarly said it is confident to secure 33 to 35 state seats in Selangor claiming the coalition’s positive progress in obtaining support from Malays and non-Malay voters in the state. Srikandi Bersatu chief Datuk Seri Rina Harun will be the candidate for the Batu Tiga seat, daughter of Umno warlord Tan Sri Noh Omar, Nurul Syazwani will be fielded in Permatang, while PN state secretary Afif Baharudin will contest in Taman Medan.
Strongholds in Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu
According to PH and BN leaders in Negeri Sembilan, this state has the strongest cooperation between the two coalitions. Respectively, PH and BN leaders are confident that they could retain Negeri Sembilan with a 36-to-nil score.
Some big names who will stay in Negeri Sembilan are Loke who will defend the Chennah seat, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan who will also defend the Rantau seat, while caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin has been named PH’s menteri besar candidate, who held the Sikamat state seat since 2008.
PAS remains strong in Kelantan and Terengganu and is expected to make a clean sweep. This time it will be PH-BN pact versus PN-led by PAS in these two states.
Not untouchable, locals have reportedly said BN could put up a strong fight against PAS in the coming state election.
Historically, Kedah and Terengganu had been considered a stronghold for BN until 2018 when PAS emerged triumphant, winning 22 out of 32 seats and forming the government.
In Terengganu, BN held power until 2013, however, in 2018, PAS secured a significant victory, winning 22 seats compared to BN's 10.
PAS has steadily increased its seats in Terengganu over the years, indicating its continued strength heading into the upcoming elections.
The Elections Commission is expected to hold a press conference on the updates of the Nomination Day later at noon.
