KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 – More than half of the 22 ministers contesting in the 13th General Election (GE13) will be facing straight fights in their respective parliamentary constituencies. All 22 ministers, except Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, Datuk Seri G Palanivel and Datuk Khaled Nordin, will be defending their parliamentary seats.
Raja Nong Chik, the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister who will be facing incumbent Nurul Izzah Anwar and independent candidate, Rusli Baba for the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat, is a newcomer for the GE13. Palanivel, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and MIC president is contesting in the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat.
In the 2008 general election, Palanivel failed to defend his Hulu Selangor seat that he had held for four terms and in the GE13 he is facing a tough five-cornered fight featuring DAP’s M. Manogaran, 53, Mohd Shokri Mahmood, 52, of Berjasa, as well as two independent candidates N. P. Kisho Kumar, 32, and T. Alagu, 51.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin who is incumbent for Pasir Gudang has switched to contest in the Permas state seat in Johor. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Hung will be facing four-cornered fights in defending their respective seats.
Anifah who will be defending the Kimanis parliamentary seat for the third term will cross swords with Lusin Balangon (STAR), Jamil William Core (SAPP) and Jaafar Ismail (PKR). Chor who is defending the Alor Setar parliamentary seat for the sixth term will face Gooi Hsiao Leung of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Abdul Fisol Mohd Isa of parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa) and Jawahar Raja Abdul Wahid of Parti Bersatu Sasa Malaysia (Bersama).
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili will defend the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat for the fifth time but opposed by three challengers, namely Majamis Timbong (STAR), Yuntau Kolod @ Kuntau Kolod (SAPP) and Maijol Mahap (PKR).
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Afdal will defend the Penampang and Semporna parliamentary seats respectively in three-cornered fights. Bernard will be challenged by Melanie Annol (STAR) and Darell Leiking from PKR, and Shafie faces PKR candidate, Dr Zamree @ Mohd Suffian Abdul Habi and independent candidate Datu Badaruddin Tun Datu Mustapha.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar will defend his Tanjong Karang parliamentary seat against independent candidate, dangdut singer Herman Tino and Mohamad Rashdi Deraman, 49 of PAS. Meanwhile, other cabinet ministers facing straight fights are Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datoh), Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (Tambun), International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (Jeli (Parliament) and Air Lanas state seat).
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam (Segamat), Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (Bentong), Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (Sembrong), Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas (Betong), Works Minister, Datuk Seri Shaziman Mansor (Tampin).
Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Seri Shabery Cheek (Kemaman), Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera), Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha (Lumut), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom (Jerai) and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz (Padang Rengas).
BERNAMA
