State polls: Three-cornered fights for Seri Serdang, Seri Kembangan in Selangor

PETALING JAYA: The Seri Serdang and Seri Kembangan state seats within the Puchong parliamentary constituency will see three-cornered fights on Aug 12.

In Seri Serdang, the battle is shaping up between election newbies with the Malay majority seat seeing Abbas Salimi Azmi, 43, (PH-Amanah), Amir Abd Hadi, 32, (Muda), and Mohd Shukor Mustaffa, 54, (PN-Bersatu) in the fray.

Abbas Salimi was a former Subang Jaya City councillor overseeing Zone 12.

Abbas, who is also Amanah youth chief, was in charge of the traditional Malay villages in the area when he was councillor, while Muda’s candidate Amir is the party’s founding member and secretary-general.

Mohd Shukor, a businessman, is the Selangor Perikatan Nasional information chief and also head of the Puchong Bersatu division.

Amir, a local boy, born and bred in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, describes his up-coming campaign trail to be a dynamic combination of on-ground and online activities.

“We will be visiting public hotspots to engage with voters, ensuring our policies and vision are communicated effectively.

“Acknowledging the new reality of the digital age, we will significantly focus on online campaigning, reaching out to voters where they are most present and comfortable,’’ added Amir.

Abbas, meanwhile, said the state government had carried out many youth-related programmes to help in their wellbeing, and that he would be continuing the programmes.

Mohd Shukor, who has been servicing the area for a number of years, said he hoped to tackle issues related congestion, floods and the high toll rates in the area.

In 2018’s 14th General Election, Dr Siti Mariah (PH-Amanah) won the seat with a total of 27,088 votes against Datuk Mohamad Satim Diman from BN-Umno (12,725) and Noor Hanim Ismail from PAS (5,552).

All three candidates were once incumbents in Seri Serdang.

Meanwhile, for the Seri Kembangan seat, its a three-way fight between Balakong incumbent Wong Siew Ki, 37 (PH-DAP), Liau Wei Jian, 30 (PN-Bersatu) and Independent candidate Wong Jung Lik, 46.

Siew Ki is no stranger to the Chinese majority stronghold having lived there for more than 16 years and is a voter there.

She vowed to carry on the good work of incumbent Ean Yong Hian Wah, who had served the area for three terms and opted to sit out the election in order to make way for new blood.

Meanwhile, Liau, who has had experience servicing the Hulu Selangor area, said he would do his best to cover Seri Kembangan which he described as new territory.

“I am new here, but will do my best,” said Liau.

Independent candidate Wong Jung Lik said he was contesting because he felt there was no representation of the people’s voice.

“We have many parties, but we need someone to represent the people.”

In GE14, Seri Kembangan incumbent Ean Yong won with a total of 35, 659 votes against Chang Toong Woh of Barisan-MCA (3,514).

Seri Kembangan has been a DAP stronghold since 2008.