Make Shamsul 'giant killer 2.0' - Nurul Izzah woos Bagan Datuk crowd

GE15 | If attendance at a function is a benchmark for a party's popularity, Umno may now have a reason to worry.

This follows a turnout of some 200 people for a Pakatan Harapan ceramah last night at Arena Bagan Pasir, Bagan Datuk - the seat held by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The crowd figure is estimated to be higher than the attendance at Zahid's own ceramah the previous night, held at the same location.

Addressing the crowd of mostly local voters, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar stumped for Harapan's candidate Shamsul Iskandar Akin, who moved from his previous constituency in Malacca in a bid to unseat Zahid.

"I hope that Shamsul who is known as a 'giant killer' can emerge as the 'giant killer 2.0' in Bagan Datuk.

"Hopefully, on Nov 19 we will have a new parliamentarian in Bagan Datuk," said Nurul Izzah.

Also present were Harapan's candidates for the Rungkup state seat Munzirie Kabir and Wasanthee Sinnasamy for Hutan Melintang.

Giant killer

Shamsul's “giant killer” reputation within Harapan came about after twice defeating former Malacca chief minister Ali Rustam at the polls.

A Bagan Datuk voter who only wants to be known as “Abang Bob” said this general election has a different vibe in light of Zahid's corruption charges.

"Zahid's ongoing corruption charges certainly have an impact on voters here. Besides that, Harapan's candidate this time is quite well known.

"In GE14, he (Zahid) only won with a majority of around 5,000 votes. That too, 2,000 voters came from army voters in Hutan Melintang base that was closed under Mohamad Sabu as defence minister.

"So we can say, it is not impossible for Zahid to be defeated this time," he said.

Bagan Datuk has been Zahid's stronghold since 1995 and GE14 saw him retaining the seat with 51.4 percent of votes in a three-cornered contest.

However, this time Zahid is facing a tougher challenge against big names and rising leaders from Harapan and PN, as well as former BN MP in the 1980s turned independent, Mohamed Tawfik Ismail.

Aside from Shamsul Iskandar and Tawfik, PN is fielding Bersatu supreme council member Dr Nik Muhammad Faiz Na'aman.

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