GE13: Former teachers and retired lecturer for Sabak Bernam and Sungai Besar seats

By B.K. Sidhu and Loh Foon Fong
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

Mohd Fasiah: The Sabak Bernam Umno secretary will stand against Abdul Aziz.

THE contest for the Sabak Bernam and Sungai Besar parliamentary constituencies will mostly be between educators, with Barisan Nasional and PAS fielding former teachers and a retired lecturer.

For the two parliamentary and four state seats in Sabak Bernam and Sungai Besar, PAS is fielding four current or retired teachers while PKR, one retired lecturer.

Retired constitutional law lecturer Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, 54, from PKR, is contesting the Sabak Bernam parliamentary seat against Sabak Bernam Umno secretary Mohd Fasiah Mohd Faken, 57.

In response to why most candidates in the two parliamentary seats were educators, Dr Abdul Aziz Bari said it was purely coincidence.

“This profession provides the training for candidates to relate with people,” he said, adding that Sabak Bernam is his hometown.

For Sungai Air Tawar state seat, former headmaster and first time candidate Wahid Rais, in his 60s, will take on Sabak Bernam Umno committee member Kamarol Zaki Abdul Malik, 55.

As for Sabak state seat, Sallehen Mukhyi (1999-2004), who operates a religious school, will be contesting against Sabak Bernam Umno vice-chief Abdul Halim Udin, 46.

Abdul Aziz: Says the profession provides the training for candidates to relate with people

For Sallehen, 40, this is his fourth attempt to unseat his opponent. He was Sungai Besar state assemblyman from 1999 to 2004.

The Sungai Besar constituency was made a parliamentary seat in 2004.

“I do not see this as a privilege but a responsibility to serve.

“I lost in the last election by a marginal 170-odd votes but this time around, I am hopeful of winning as we now have the experience of running the state (Selangor) since 2008’,” he said.

For the Sungai Air Tawar state seat, former headmaster and first-time candidate Wahid Rais, in his 60s, will take on Sabak Bernam Umno committee member Kamarol Zaki Abdul Malik, 55.

PAS Sungai Besar deputy chief and retired teacher Mohd Salleh Husin, 65, is contesting for the first time for the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat against Sungai Besar Wanita Umno chief Datuk Noriah Kasnon, 49.

“As a former teacher, I like to educate and empower people,” he said.

Mohd Salleh said he will do his best to win.

Religious teacher Fadzlin Taslimin, 63, will be contesting the Sungai Panjang state seat against Sungai Besar Umno youth chief Budiman Mohd Zohdi, 41.

Fadzlin, is contesting the seat for the fourth time.

Meanwhile, the Sekinchan state seat will be contested by DAP’s Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim, 42, who will take on Sungai Besar MCA chairman Kek Seng Hooi.

Ng, contesting for the fourth time, said he would fight to defend the seat and help Pakatan form the next Federal Government. The fight for this seat is expected to be intense.