Rais - Bersatu's front runner for Semenyih polls?
Bersatu has yet to pick its candidate for the upcoming Semenyih by-election, but Rais Zulkifli is believed to be the most favoured out of six names submitted to the party leadership.
A source in Bersatu says that a majority of the members in Hulu Langat Bersatu Youth support the 38-year-old acting division head as the contender for the state seat.
Semenyih is under the Hulu Langat division...
Bersatu has yet to pick its candidate for the upcoming Semenyih by-election, but Rais Zulkifli is believed to be the most favoured out of six names submitted to the party leadership.
A source in Bersatu says that a majority of the members in Hulu Langat Bersatu Youth support the 38-year-old acting division head as the contender for the state seat.
Semenyih is under the Hulu Langat division.
"Rais is a local in Hulu Langat, and the locals want someone from the area who understands and is able relate to local issues. It's natural that many people including those from the Youth wing are behind him.
"But at the end of the day, the decision comes from the party leadership," said the source.
The source added that Rais ticks all the boxes outlined by the party leadership.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin previously said that the party will field a candidate who is young, highly educated, and accepted by the people.
Chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad added last week that Bersatu is on the lookout for someone who is fit, intelligent, and sympathetic towards the people.
'Will respect leadership's decision'
Rais was supposed to contest for the Semenyih seat during the 14th general election, but gave way to the late Bakhtiar Mohd Nor (photo).
Bakhtiar wrested the seat from BN in a four-cornered fight on May 9. His death last month triggered the March 2 the by-election.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, Rais said that he is hopeful, but will respect the leadership's decision regardless of the outcome.
"I don't know about my chances as the other five candidates have their own strengths and they are all young.
"I don't know how the leadership picks the candidate, so I leave it to them to decide. My focus now is to help the party prepare for the by-election," he said.
Rais did not reveal the other names submitted to the leadership, but the source said it is believed they include the party supreme council members Ulya Husamudin and Faiz Na'aman, as well as Selangor Bersatu Youth exco member Roszamri Bahari.
Rais said he started his political career as an activist for the non-registered movement Deklarasi Rakyat before the inception of Bersatu.
"When Bersatu was incepted, I was one of the early members. I also established Hulu Langat Bersatu, which attracted one of the highest numbers of members in Selangor.
"I gave way to the late Bakhtiar to contest in Semenyih, as he was a senior and I believed in his strength.
"He sacrificed a lot for the party. I thought he had the chance to win," Rais said, adding that he was then appointed as the party election chairperson for Dusun Tua.
This stupid look guy surely will lose...
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