The Malaysian Insight

YOUTH-based Muda indicated its interest in contesting in the Titiwangsa parliamentary seat in the coming general election (GE) through a people’s session at Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru last night.

The nearly three-hour session began at 8.30pm, and featured, among others, activist and the founder of Buku Jalanan Chow Kit – Siti Rahayu Baharin, 41. 

Siti Rahayu volunteered to contest in the GE. 

“I am a party person. My intention is to enter politics and to speak (on people’s issues) in parliament. That is clear to me. I have offered myself to Muda to be a candidate. It is up to you where to place me. I will accept it even if it is in some part of Kedah.

“My goal is to be in parliament to be a voice for everyone I work with now. My desire to go to parliament is for me to extend my activism work.

“In my manifesto, one of the things I want to fight for is a policy to make it easy for everyone to earn a living and to provide quality education for all. That’s what I want to bring,” she said.

“If possible I want to serve in Kuala Lumpur where I have served for seven years, but wherever I am thrown, I will serve,” Siti Rahayu told The Malaysian Insight.

She has been busy with efforts to help community groups, especially under privileged children, in the capital for the past seven years. 

Buku Jalanan Chow Kit started as a public library in 2015 to meet the needs of children from poor families in the Chow Kit area.

Since then, the volunteer group provides free education aiming to expand its reach to help more children in the Chow Kit area gain access to education, including those without identification documents.

“I am indeed here, my office is here, the Sultan Sulaiman Club where I always do activities, but I am not sure which parliament seat to compete for,” said Siti Rahayu. 

Federal Territories Muda chairman Taufiq Zarak said his party is eyeing a chance for the Titiwangsa parliamentary seat, but that it is subject to discussions with Pakatan Harapan (PH). 

“Many parties is eyeing to contest in Titiwangsa. We are also in it but it depends on PH’s decision,” he said. 

He added that Muda had not set any targets of seats to contest in Kuala Lumpur. 

“In KL, the seats are contested by PH parties. Our aim is not to fight them, we are focused on fighting BN; that is our objective,” said Taufiq.

He said their focus had been on mobilising their machinery and members to be ready in any area where they are likely to compete.

Titiwangsa is one of the few constituencies with a Malay-majority voter base located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

The proportion of Malay voters in Titiwangsa is the largest at around 70.5%, followed by Chinese 17.3%, and Indian 9.42%.

There were 55,300 voters in the last GE, but the number is estimated to increase by more than 20,000, including new voters. 

The area also houses several Malay villages such as Kampung Baru, Kampung Pandan, and Datuk Keramat, which were won alternately by Umno, PAS and Bersatu since the parliamentary constituency was established in 1986. 

Titiwangsa Umno head Johari Abdul Ghani is said to be among the big names who will be nominated to contest this seat.

He was former Titiwangsa MP and finance minister during the Najib Razak administration, but lost to Bersatu candidate Rina Harun in the last GE. 

Bersatu Armada chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who is Bersatu’s Titiwangsa chief, is also expected to contest there, replacing Rina, who is expected to be moved to another seat.

As for PH components, Amanah has expressed interest in contesting in this seat.

Yesterday, the party said it wants to contest in seats previously contested by Bersatu in Kuala Lumpur – Titiwangsa and Bandar Tun Razak, as well as the Putrajaya seat, which is held by Umno.

Titiwangsa was one of the last few seats PH settled for in seat negotiations during the last GE. At the time, PKR and Amanah wanted the seat, but it was given to Bersatu.

Apart from Titiwangsa, there are 10 parliamentary seats in Kuala Lumpur – all won by PH in 2018. – October 16, 2022.