GE14 | PKR candidate for Taman Medan Syamsul Firdaus Mohamed Supri has said that he expects to face some doubts from local party members, in the wake of the party's decision to field him as a replacement for incumbent Taman Medan assemblyperson Haniza Mohamed Talha.

"I think you will have to ask the people from the branches. There might be some doubts from the grassroots.

"But at this stage what is most important is support from the rakyat," he said, when asked if PKR will field Haniza to contest Lembah Jaya, a seat presently held by PAS. She has represented Taman Medan for two terms.

Syamsul Firdaus said he was a long-time member of Petaling Jaya Selatan PKR division, but did not offer the press more details about his previous involvement with the constituency.

A religious teacher or ustad by training, Syamsul Firdaus said that his goal was to share his religious knowledge with the Taman Medan constituents.

"There was a woman here for two terms, and now with my background as someone who is educated in religion, I want to change the views of the Malay community.

"I represent the kelompok agamawan (religious group) in PKR," he said.

He said that although he is a political novice, he has served as an officer for two-term Kota Anggerik assemblyperson Yaakob Sapari and the experience has helped prepare him for the polls.

When asked if he had received Haniza's blessing to take over her work, Syamsul Firdaus replied that it was a "normal thing" to be fielded elsewhere.

"She (Haniza) got transferred to Lembah Jaya so there is no issue of me taking over... this is a normal thing.

"Maybe she can have a new experience in a new constituency," he said.