INTERVIEW | In the last general election, PKR vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin was given a seemingly impossible task to take on BN giant Mohd Ali Rustam, the Malacca chief minister for close to 14 years.
Ali had moved from the state seat of Bukit Baru (now Bukit Katil) to the parliamentary seat of Bukit Katil (now Hang Tuah Jaya) with federal ambitions, but was shocked by his defeat.
This prompted him to lash out at voters, particularly the Chinese community, accusing them of being ungrateful.
Shamsul, who lost in all of his previous election outings - Tangga Batu in 2004 and Dungun in 2008 – suddenly found himself being labelled a ‘giant killer’.
In a recent interview, Ali told Malaysiakini that voters who did not support him in the last general election have seen that their vote for the opposition came to nothing, and would reconsider in the upcoming polls.
Challenges ahead
Beyond the rhetoric, however, there are concrete reasons why Shamsul may find it difficult to maintain his "giant killer" title.
The Election Commission’s recent redelineation exercise did not just see Bukit Katil renamed Hang Tuah Jaya, but also several opposition-leaning polling stations being moved out of the constituency.
The five polling districts – Taman Melaka Baru, Batu Berendam, Taman Merdeka, Taman Asean and Malim Jaya – collectively made up 13,831 PKR votes and 5,856 BN votes in the last general election.
With all else being equal, this would leave Shamsul with a 7,975-vote deficit, effectively erasing his 5,447-vote majority win and could even give BN up to a 1,242-vote surplus.
Shamsul, in an interview, acknowledged that he had thought about moving seats, not because of the odds in Hang Tuah Jaya, but because of what Pakatan Harapan needs in neighbouring Johor.
He noted that PKR's partners have deployed heavyweights to the frontline state, such as Bersatu's Muhyiddin Yassin, Amanah's Salahuddin Ayub and DAP's Lim Kit Siang.
"So now we need someone from the PKR central leadership in southern Johor," he said.
However, Shamsul said he was prepared to stay put in Hang Tuah Jaya just to have another go at Ali Rustam if the former chief minister is going to contest the seat again.
"If he (Ali) comes back, I have to stay to defend my seat or there will be perception that I am running away," he told Malaysiakini.
Undaunted
Shamsul was undaunted by the new electoral boundaries that favoured BN, stating that he had pulled off the impossible once, and was prepared to try it again.
"Nobody expected me to win in 2013 also, so it is the same this time," he said with a grin.
He also pointed out that sentiments have changed among voters since the 2013 general election, aided by Harapan now having Umno splinter party Bersatu on its side.
However, Shamsul said his wishes would be subject to the approval of his party’s central leadership, and that he would abide by any decision, even if it means moving to another constituency.
Despite his 2013 loss, Ali’s presence is still felt in Hang Tuah Jaya with his attendance at numerous community events, which has led to speculation that he will be standing there again.
But Ali was coy about his potential candidacy.
"I don't want to comment on all these issues about contesting. Wait till the prime minister announces, then I will comment," he told Malaysiakini.
Ali had also touted the development he brought to Malacca in his over 13 years as chief minister, and said Bukit Katil had missed out on developing further with the results of the last general election.
It is for this reason that Ali believes they will back BN this time around.
‘Not all about development’
Shamsul disputes this, however.
"BN always thinks it's all about development, development, development, but it is also about the small, important issues," he said.
Shamsul said despite lacking funding as an opposition MP, he was able to crowdfund four reverse osmosis water dispensers for each of the state seats within the Hang Tuah Jaya constituency.
Another example, he said, was the successful crowdfunding of stalls for underprivileged women to start their own businesses.
Shamsul also dismissed Ali's claim that he was nowhere to be seen in the constituency, stating that he lived the area and his children go to school there.
Nomination day for the 14th general election has been fixed on April 28, by which time the people of Hang Tuah Jaya will know if there will be a rematch between Ali and Shamsul.
Polling day will be on May 9.
RELATED REPORTS
Hang Tuah Jaya voters will see the error of their ways, says Ali Rustam
