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Wednesday, August 02, 2023

Azmin’s back, Sheraton Move a thing of the past, say Hulu Kelang folk


FMT:

Azmin’s back, Sheraton Move a thing of the past, say Hulu Kelang folk


Residents believe Azmin Ali stands a better chance of winning because he has been working hard despite his GE15 defeat.



Azmin Ali (third from right) with, among others, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (second from right) and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (right) at the Sheraton Move gathering in 2020.


KUALA LUMPUR: Hulu Kelang residents believe that memories of Azmin Ali’s role in the Sheraton Move are fading and there is a renewed trust in him following his hard work for the constituency.

Several residents told FMT they would not forget that the former menteri besar played an instrumental role in the move that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government, but they also noticed that Azmin had been working hard to win the hearts of the residents after he lost his parliamentary seat in November.

Azmin first represented Hulu Kelang in 1999, before becoming the assemblyman for Bukit Antarabangsa. Hulu Kelang falls within the Gombak parliamentary constituency, where Azmin was defeated in GE15.

Halim Said, 51, said Azmin was hardworking and frequently met the residents, especially the poor, in the constituency.

“He worked as if he was still the assemblyman here,” he said.

“Even after the general election, he still engaged the residents to identify any issue, and extended contributions to suraus, mosques and schools. I won’t be surprised if he wins this time.”

He said PH’s decision to field Juwairiya Zulkifli, who is not a familiar face with the residents, would only give an extra advantage to the former international trade and industry minister.

Halim said Anfaal Saari, the daughter of previous Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib, would have been a better rival for Azmin as the residents were more familiar with her.

Hulu Kelang will see a straight fight between Azmin, now contesting on a Perikatan Nasional ticket, and Juwairiya, who is the former Bukit Melawati assemblyman.

Another resident, Rokiah Shamsudin, 61, said Azmin was quick to respond to complaints on local issues, making him popular once more with the residents after he was previously labelled a “traitor”.

She believed Azmin would gain support from those who were disappointed by PH aligning itself with former nemesis Barisan Nasional.

Hamidah Majid, in her 40s, said the Sheraton Move and GE15 were already in the past, and the people now wanted a representative who was approachable and active on the ground.

“How are we going to cast our ballot for someone who seems like a stranger here?” she said, referring to Juwairiya.


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