No more in Titiwangsa but Rina used as campaign fodder there
GE15 | In the 14th general election (GE14), Rina Harun won the Titiwangsa parliamentary seat under the Bersatu ticket, which was then part of Pakatan Harapan.
However, in this election, she will not defend the seat, as she is moving to the Sepang parliamentary constituency instead.
She might have moved seats but that has not stopped candidates contesting in the Titiwangsa seat from using her name as campaign fodder.
Khalid Abdul Samad, the Pakatan Harapan candidate, often uses her name to portray her as a "burden" to the seat, while BN's Johari Abdul Ghani uses her name as ammunition to entice voters to vote for BN.
"I can guarantee you I will not neglect (the constituency) like Rina. I can assure you that I was put here based on my track record as a three-term MP for Shah Alam," said Khalid in two separate meetings with traders and voters at Titiwangsa recently.
In GE14, four years ago, Rina (above) defeated Johari with a 4,139 vote majority.
Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for Titiwangsa Khalid Abdul Samad
However, her reputation soured after the Bersatu politician became involved in the Sheraton Move political coup, which led to the collapse of the Harapan federal administration.
Rina also came under fire for her remarks made during her stint as the women, family, and community development minister.
She advised wives to speak like the cartoon character Doraemon when dealing with their husbands. Also contentious was her stance on the underaged marriage issue.
Johari also often uses these points as ammunition during his campaigning in the area, apart from citing her frequent "disappearance" from the constituency.
Dilemma reigns
During his campaigning, Johari often mentions taking advantage of popular tourist destinations surrounding the constituency to develop the area.
During a recent programme, the Kuala Lumpur BN liaison chief was warmly welcomed by constituents. An 18-page booklet detailing his contributions to the constituency was also distributed to attendees.
A check by Malaysiakini found that voters acknowledge the charitable works done by their former MP, even though he lost the seat to Rina in 2018.
However, this is not enough for them to decide on who to vote for this Saturday.
A voter who only wanted to be identified as Nurul, said a lot of factors have to be taken into consideration before casting the ballot for the "right candidate".
However, her reputation soured after the Bersatu politician became involved in the Sheraton Move political coup, which led to the collapse of the Harapan federal administration.
Rina also came under fire for her remarks made during her stint as the women, family, and community development minister.
She advised wives to speak like the cartoon character Doraemon when dealing with their husbands. Also contentious was her stance on the underaged marriage issue.
Johari also often uses these points as ammunition during his campaigning in the area, apart from citing her frequent "disappearance" from the constituency.
Dilemma reigns
During his campaigning, Johari often mentions taking advantage of popular tourist destinations surrounding the constituency to develop the area.
During a recent programme, the Kuala Lumpur BN liaison chief was warmly welcomed by constituents. An 18-page booklet detailing his contributions to the constituency was also distributed to attendees.
A check by Malaysiakini found that voters acknowledge the charitable works done by their former MP, even though he lost the seat to Rina in 2018.
However, this is not enough for them to decide on who to vote for this Saturday.
A voter who only wanted to be identified as Nurul, said a lot of factors have to be taken into consideration before casting the ballot for the "right candidate".
BN’s candidate for Titiwangsa Johari Abdul Ghani
The fact that the country has seen three different federal administrations before any of them served a full term of five years also weighs on the mind of the stock broker, who has resided in Kampung Baru for the last 20 years.
"If it's a parliamentary candidate, we have to see what party will rule, and the current ones (candidates) are also 50-50. Don't know how the country's future will be.
"There is a dilemma (in choosing who to vote). It used to be easier to decide which party to vote," said the 49-year-old.
Another voter, Sahrin Sulaiman, 50, echoed Nurul's remarks, saying he is cautious with politicians' “sweet promises” before they win an election.
"Datuk Jo (Johari) does come a lot (on the ground), but the other politicians, there is nothing when they get elected.
"They promise to change many things, but now it is even difficult to do business," said the corn trader.
Another trader, Isran, is worried about his livelihood at Jalan Raja Muda Musa in Kampung Baru when a plan to "beautify" the surrounding area begins.
The retired civil servant hopes whoever gets elected to lead the constituency will truly look after the people's welfare.
"We, as the people, have to accept (whatever the decision). The rakyat is always the victim."
Different approaches, same goal
Although Johari and Khalid are gunning for the Titiwangsa seat this 15th general election (GE15), they have different approaches to fishing for votes.
Khalid, who is an outspoken lawmaker in the Dewan Rakyat, holds meetings with targeted groups, where he boldly talks about issues and takes questions and suggestions.
However, during his sessions, Khalid seems to be the "new face" as he is not recognised by many of the constituents.
This differs from Johari who chooses to hold sessions that give him the opportunity to mingle with the electorate, especially from the Malay community.
When asked about the lack of ceramah (political lectures) and his refusal to engage in a debate with Khalid during the campaign, Johari, who is also an Umno supreme council member, said such an approach is not important to get closer to the voters.
The Titiwangsa electorate comprised 71 percent Malays, 17 percent Chinese, nine percent Indians, and two percent of other ethnicities as of GE14.
Aside from Johari and Khalid, the two other candidates vying for the seat are Khairuddin Abu Hassan (Pejuang) and Rosni Adam (Perikatan Nasional).
The fact that the country has seen three different federal administrations before any of them served a full term of five years also weighs on the mind of the stock broker, who has resided in Kampung Baru for the last 20 years.
"If it's a parliamentary candidate, we have to see what party will rule, and the current ones (candidates) are also 50-50. Don't know how the country's future will be.
"There is a dilemma (in choosing who to vote). It used to be easier to decide which party to vote," said the 49-year-old.
Another voter, Sahrin Sulaiman, 50, echoed Nurul's remarks, saying he is cautious with politicians' “sweet promises” before they win an election.
"Datuk Jo (Johari) does come a lot (on the ground), but the other politicians, there is nothing when they get elected.
"They promise to change many things, but now it is even difficult to do business," said the corn trader.
Another trader, Isran, is worried about his livelihood at Jalan Raja Muda Musa in Kampung Baru when a plan to "beautify" the surrounding area begins.
The retired civil servant hopes whoever gets elected to lead the constituency will truly look after the people's welfare.
"We, as the people, have to accept (whatever the decision). The rakyat is always the victim."
Different approaches, same goal
Although Johari and Khalid are gunning for the Titiwangsa seat this 15th general election (GE15), they have different approaches to fishing for votes.
Khalid, who is an outspoken lawmaker in the Dewan Rakyat, holds meetings with targeted groups, where he boldly talks about issues and takes questions and suggestions.
However, during his sessions, Khalid seems to be the "new face" as he is not recognised by many of the constituents.
This differs from Johari who chooses to hold sessions that give him the opportunity to mingle with the electorate, especially from the Malay community.
When asked about the lack of ceramah (political lectures) and his refusal to engage in a debate with Khalid during the campaign, Johari, who is also an Umno supreme council member, said such an approach is not important to get closer to the voters.
The Titiwangsa electorate comprised 71 percent Malays, 17 percent Chinese, nine percent Indians, and two percent of other ethnicities as of GE14.
Aside from Johari and Khalid, the two other candidates vying for the seat are Khairuddin Abu Hassan (Pejuang) and Rosni Adam (Perikatan Nasional).
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