Khairy to contest in Sungai Buloh, source confirms

Incumbent Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin will contest the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15), according to BN sources.

"Yes, Khairy will contest in Sungai Buloh. The decision was finalised recently.

"BN chairperson (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) will make the announcement soon," the source told Malaysiakini.

The seat was traditionally MIC's, but the party lost to PKR for three consecutive terms.

According to the source, the fact that Khairy's (above) political secretary, Megat Firdouz Megat Junid, is the Sungai Buloh Umno division chief gives him (Khairy) the advantage to contest there.

Khairy, who is also the health minister, left the Rembau parliamentary seat for Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan to contest.

PKR's R Sivarasa is the incumbent Sungai Buloh MP who has held the seat since 2008, but he will not be defending his seat for GE15.

Instead, PKR will field its deputy information chief R Ramanan, who was also a former MIC secretary-general.

MIC eyeing Batu

Meanwhile, a source from MIC said the party was planning to contest in Batu.

"We have let go of Sungai Buloh, so we will get a replacement seat.

"MIC is negotiating to contest in the Batu parliamentary seat," the source added.

Batu used to belong to Gerakan when the party was still part of BN. However, the party left the coalition after the latter's defeat in the 2018 general election.

Following this, Umno and MIC have both been eyeing the seat.

PKR has already announced that incumbent Batu MP P Prabakaran will be defending the seat.

Besides him, two independent candidates are also vying for the seat - lawyer Siti Kasim as well as lesser-known businessperson Nur Fathiah Syazwana.

It is worth noting that MIC had also previously swapped the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat for Teluk Intan, and Kapar for Kuala Langat.

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