PKR to field more women
Party identifies four potential candidates for Johor
JOHOR BARU: PKR is expected to field more women candidates in Johor in the coming general election.
It is learnt that four women have been identified so far as potential candidates for one parliamentary seat and three state seats.
Among the candidates are national Wanita PKR vicechief Tan Poh Lai for the Sekijang parliamentary seat, Johor Wanita PKR chief Rahamizon Abdul Ghani (Tiram), Nor Ashidah Ibrahim (Sedili) and businesswoman Fauziah Mokhtar (Pemanis).
Sources said that this was the first time the party had allocated four seats for female candidates compared to just two seats in the previous general election.
The party is expected to contest in at least eight parliamentary seats and 12 state seats in Johor.
The parliamentary seats are Segamat, Sekijang, Ledang, Batu Pahat, Sembrong, Tebrau, Pasir Gudang and Johor Baru.
The state seats are Pemanis, Bukit Naning, Sungai Balang, Semerah, Rengit, LayangLayang, Tenggaroh, Johor Lama, Sedili, Tanjung Surat, Tiram and Bukit Batu.
Johor has 26 parliamentary seats and 56 state seats.
The sources also claimed that a power struggle is brewing in PKR, with one camp aligned to PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and another aligned to vicepresident Rafizi Ramli.
“There is intense lobbying going on among the two camps over the choice of candidates in Johor,” the sources added.
The sources said Tan may be fielded in the Malaymajority seat of Sekijang.
“Sekijang has been a seat traditionally contested by Malay men.
“We believe Tan, who is a lawyer, has a fighting chance as she has been working on the ground for some time,” they said.
The Sekijang parliamentary seat, which comprises Pemanis and Kemelah state seats, has more than 45,679 voters.
Malay voters make up 59% of the electorate.
When contacted, Johor PKR chief Hasan Karim was coy about the names of the female candidates.
“I cannot say for sure who they are and where are they contesting,” he said.
He added that an announcement would be made from the top leadership on the candidates’ list soon.