Perak a GE15 battleground state?

Many big names of the major political parties contesting the election are either defending their seats or trying their fortune in the state as they woo their segments of the total 2.1 million electors, up by 11 per cent from GE14.

The matter of the battleground state became perceptible after the nomination of Pakatan Harapan chairman and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest the Tambun parliamentary seat instead of defending Port Dickson which he won in a by-election in 2018.

Anwar is taking on incumbent Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman and Bersatu deputy president. Ahmad Faizal, who goes by the nickname Peja, was once the menteri besar of Perak.

Others in the four-cornered fray are Tambun UMNO Division chief Datuk Aminuddin Md Hanafiah (Barisan Nasional - BN) and Abdul Rahim Tahir of Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) which is contesting under the Pejuang banner.

Also in the spotlight is BN chairman and UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is defending the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat in his seventh polls contest, having first won the seat in 1995.

His opponents in the four-cornered contest are Dr Muhammad Faiz Na'aman (PN-Bersatu), Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin (PH-PKR) and independent candidate Mohamed Tawfik Tun Dr Ismail.

Three key MIC leaders are also contesting in Perak.

Party president Tan Sri S. A. Vigneswaran, a former president of the Dewan Negara, is making a maiden bid for the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat. He is involved in a seven-cornered contest that also comprises incumbent S. Kesavan (PH-PKR); Datuk Seri G. Irudianathan (PN-Bersatu); Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Jaafar (GTA-Pejuang) and three independent candidates - housewife R. Indrani; former PN Sungai Siput information chief Baharudin Kamarudin and businessman N. Rajah.

Party deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan is defending the Tapah parliamentary seat in a six-cornered contest. His challengers are K. Saraswathy (PH-PKR); Datuk Muhammad Yadzan Mohammad (PN-Bersatu); Mohamed Akbar Sherrif Ali Yasin (Warisan); Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi (GTA-Pejuang) and M. Kathiravan (Independent).

MIC vice-president Datuk T. Murugiah is going for the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat. He is up against incumbent Nga Kor Ming (PH-DAP) who is a DAP vice-chairman and Perak DAP chairman; PN-Bersatu Perak chairman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin and GTA-Pejuang candidate Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi in the four-cornered contest.

Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, secretary-general of PN and also of Bersatu, is defending the Larut parliamentary seat in a four-cornered contest also involving Larut UMNO Youth information head Mohd Syafiq Fhadly Mahmud (BN-UMNO); Zolkarnain Abidin (PH-Amanah) and Auzaie Fadzlan Shahidi (GTA-Berjasa).

Amanah vice-president and Perak PH chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusuf Rawa, the three-term MP, is defending the Parit Buntar parliamentary seat in a four-cornered contest against Imran Mohd Yusof (BN-UMNO); Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN-PAS) and Rohijas Md Sharif (GTA-Pejuang).

PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad (PN) is involved in a four-cornered contest for the Bagan Serai parliamentary seat along with Zul Helmi Ghazali (BN-UMNO); Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail (PH-PKR) and Ahmad Luqman Ahmad Yahaya (GTA-Pejuang).

UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (BN) is engaged in a three-cornered fight for the Gerik parliamentary seat with Fathul Huzir Ayob (PN-Bersatu) and Ahmad Tarmizi Mohd Jam (PH-DAP).

DAP vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran (PH) is facing three candidates in defending the Ipoh Barat parliamentary seat.

They are Low Guo Nan (BN-MCA); Chek Kwong Weng (PN-Gerakan) and veteran politician Tan Sri M. Kayveas, the former MyPPP president who is standing as an independent.

The big names contesting the Tanjong Malim parliamentary seat at the southern tip of Perak are incumbent Perak PKR chairman Chang Lih Kang (PH); MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (BN); Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi (PN-Bersatu); Dr Amir Hamzah Abdul Rajak (GTA-IMAN) and two independents - Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Mohd Nor Izzat Mohd Johari.

Besides the 24 parliamentary seats, Perak is also seeing contests in the 59 state seats in GE15.

Polling is on Nov 19.

-- BERNAMA