Puteri Wangsa: All eyes on PKR’s Dr Maszlee and MUDA’s Sharifah

Johor Bahru: In the forthcoming Johor elections, Puteri Wangsa has become a focal point for political observers. In 2022, MUDA’s deputy president, Amira Aisya, won the seat by a margin of 7,115 votes with PH’s backing. While she is sitting out this election, MUDA has fielded Sharifah Aljunied without forming any pact with major coalitions. Amira Aisya has become the President of MUDA, taking over from Syed Saddiq, who is still awaiting the Federal Court’s decision on his appeal in his corruption case.

Therefore, political observers are awaiting the Puteri Wangsa election results to analyse whether MUDA’s 2022 win was due to its popularity or to its contesting under the PH banner.

BN has deployed an MCA candidate here, while PH is fielding former Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik. Though not officially declared, Maszlee is widely seen as PH’s poster boy for the Menteri Besar post if the coalition forms the state government. If PH is unable to win a majority of seats but becomes the opposition coalition, Maszlee is expected to become the opposition leader of the Johor state assembly, provided he wins the Puteri Wangsa seat. The other contender for the MB or opposition leader’s post on behalf of PH is Shuizan from Amanah, who is contesting the Larkin state assembly seat. Shuizan is also the MP for Pulai.

Meanwhile, Bersama has thrown Nicholas Paul Vincent into the ring. In this five-cornered fight (with an independent), Nicholas is the sole Indian candidate in a constituency with a 9.9% Indian voter base, positioning him to consolidate minority votes for Bersama and dictate the final outcome for the heavyweights.