Over 50% of Selangor PKR's candidate list comprised of new faces, state surveys show.

KLANG: A total number of 11 new faces are among the 20 PKR members selected to contest in the upcoming state polls in Selangor.

Among the new names in the line-up is the party’s Kuala Selangor division chief Thiban Subramaniam, who will contest in Bukit Melawati replacing incumbent Juwairiya Zulkifli who has been moved to Hulu Kelang.

The incumbent for Hulu Kelang is Amanah’s Saari Sungib and there must have been a seat swap between the party and PKR.

Juwairiya, whom PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described as a fighter when announcing her name, is probably being sent to Hulu Kelang as there is widespread talk that Bersatu’s Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will be contesting there.

The other newbies are Phua Pei Lei who replaces Elizabeth Wong in Bukit Lanjan and David Cheong who replaces Hee Loy Sian in Kajang.

The incumbents defending their seats are Rawang’s Chua Wei Kiat, Sungai Tua’s Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Paya Jaras’ Khairuddin Othman, Kota Angerik’s Najwan Halimi, Sentosa’s Gunaraj George, Sungai Kandis’ Zawawi Mughni and Tanjong Sepat’s Borhan Aman Shah.

In spite of Najwan’s recent controversy which raised the hackles of the Indian community, PKR leaders appear to have forgiven him for his gaffe.

After a lot of speculation that his seat will go to Umno, Port Klang incumbent Azmizam Zaman Huri has been given the mandate to contest in the constituency again.

There was also a swap in the line-up with Permatang incumbent Rozana Zainal Abidin being replaced by her husband Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri.

ALSO READ: Porfolio Menteri KPDN diisi tak lama lagi

Rap artiste and actor Altimet (Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad) has also been named as candidate to contest in Lembah Jaya.

Meanwhile, Tanjong Sepat incumbent Borhan Aman Shah, who will be defending his seat, said he was thankful to his party leaders for continuing to have confidence in him.

“The situation is not the same as it was before with Pakatan Harapan now part of a unity government with Barisan Nasional.

“So, this fact will play a role in how we work from now onwards and our ties with Barisan must be sustained and strengthened,” said Borhan who is the Selangor PKR deputy chief.

Bukit Melawati incumbent Juwairiya said she will have to get to know her constituents and work extra hard as she has been relocated to Hulu Kelang.

“But I know that it’s something that has to be done and I will be giving my best,” said Juwairiya, who was Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s political secretary.

Sentosa incumbent assemblyman Gunaraj George, who has also been retained, said it was going to be a crowded affair in his constituency.

“There will be at least four or five others contesting against me but I am confident of sailing through as I have served my constituents well over the years,” said Gunaraj.

He also thanked the party leadership for having confidence in him.

Meanwhile, Azmizam said he reckoned it was going to be a tough fight for him in Port Klang, which was a Malay majority seat.

“It is no longer like before as the political landscape and demographics have changed,” said Azmizam.

ALSO READ: Kebebasan bersuara: K'jaan Madani tidak jujur, dolak dalik, hipokrit, kata LFL

“But I will give my all and do my best in line with the trust given to me by my party leaders,” he said.

The full PKR candidate list for Selangor: