INTERVIEW His friends may think it is 'suicide’ for his political career, but PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub is ready to relinquish his Kubang Kerian parliamentary seat in Kelantan to contest in Johor.

NONE "I’m not afraid to face that situation even though people have said that I (would be) committing suicide in Johor, but that is (the) requirement if we are facing a struggle,” he said.

Johor, the birthplace of Umno, has remained staunchly behind BN, which swept  25 of the 26 parliamentary seats and 50 of the 56 state seats in 2008.

Salahuddin said he is likely contest a traditional PAS seat but did not rule out a swap if he goes for seats contested by DAP or PKR.

Salahuddin, who was propelled into national politics when he became PAS Youth chief, first won in Kubang Kerian in 2004. He then recorded a solid victory with a 10,642-vote majority in 2008.

However, all four parliamentary seat that he is now eyeing in Johor were bagged by BN with a five-digit lead.

        

With the exception of Senggarang where the MCA defeated DAP by 575 votes, all other state seats under those parliamentary constituencies were won by BN with a four-digit lead.

Salahuddin has tentatively decided to contest both state and parliamentary seats close to each other, either in Pontian, Tanjung Piai, Batu Pahat or Pulai. He is expected to make an announcement in one to two weeks.

He was born in Pontian, while Tanjung Piai is his hometown and he has also spent time in Pulai as a student.

Dr Puad Zarkashi Responding to Umno’s Batu Pahat MP Puad Zarkashi’s (right) challenge to take him on, Salahuddin replied: “Just wait, I have no problems contesting there, I have strong grassroots (support).

                        

“I lived in Batu Pahat for 15 years and began my political career there. If I find Batu Pahat to be a suitable place, then I will contest there.

"Johor is a nostalgic and sentimental place for me in my 30-year-old political career. I started with PAS in Johor, it is impossible to separate myself from the state.”

Salahuddin said he has been offered the opportunity to contest in Pasir Mas (Kelantan) and Titiwangsa (Kuala Lumpur), both considered to be favourable seats for PAS.

"If I want comfort, I can remain in myKubang Kerian parliament seat (as) there has not been a problem about my performance there… or I can contest in Pasir Mas or Titiwangsa.

"But if I do not have the courage to do my duty (to bring change to Johor), then what value is there for me as a politician and senior leader in PAS?"

Practical politician

While admitting that he may have become "a little detached" from Johor - as he has not been involved in politics there since 2004 - Salahuddin insisted that he retains strong grassroots support.

"Don't forget that I was the Johor PAS Youth chief for 10 years from 1989... there is no problem for me in maintaining my good relationship with (those in) the state," he said.

Salahuddin denied that his move to Johor is because the party lacks talented leaders in the state.

NONE "There are many PAS leaders in Johor - commissioner Dr Mahfodz Mohamed and his deputy Dzulkifli Ahmad, Mazlan Aliman (left) and Youth chief Suhaizan Kayat ... my return to Johor is only complementary to completing our strength ...”

Laughing off speculation that he will be nominated as menteri besar if Pakatan Rakyat captures the state, Salahuddin pointed out that it would not be easy to defeat Umno.

“I have been trained by the party to be a practical politician, I know the strengths and weaknesses of the party in Johor,” he said.

However, Salahuddin is unfazed by the possibility of defeat, pointing out that DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang had been defeated in 1999 but remains a strong leader in his party.

"(Mahatma) Gandhi did not need to be prime minister for him to be remembered by Indians as their leader. Nelson Mandela was only prime minister of South Africa for one term but has always been seen as the country's leader," he noted.

Additional reporting by Abdul Rahim Sabri

VIDEO | 15.27 mins

Tomorrow: ‘Johor not eternal Umno bastion’