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JOHOR BARU – Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association president Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi has become the first individual to offer to stand as an independent in the Pulai parliamentary by-election next month.
Samsudin, 47, who also contested the Putrajaya parliamentary seat in last year’s general election as an independent candidate, said he aims to bring the voice of NGOs to Parliament if elected.
He also said that he decided to throw his hat in the ring after seeing more focus given on positions rather than people’s issues after the federal polls.
“I feel the need to have an NGO that brings the people’s voice to the Parliament, to convey what is happening to the people because we are directly involved in dealing with various consumer issues. We listen to people’s grievances every day.
“I have been commuting to Pulai for three weeks now to collect data, and I have seen many people who are struggling, for example, with the rising prices of goods,” he said when contacted today.
The Kluang-born said he chose to stand as an independent because he did not want to be bound by any political party.
“I’m not here to divide the votes. I want the people to understand that choosing an independent candidate will not disrupt the government’s stability. I’m offering them a chance to determine whether they wish to step up as consumer advocates or not. The decision rests with them.
“However, the people’s voice already exists in Parliament, and I am opening the door for other NGOs to progress further,” he said.
In the general election, Bersatu vice-president Datuk Radzi Jidin won Putrajaya with a 2,310-vote majority, defeating five challengers including Samsudin and incumbent Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor of Barisan Nasional.
The Election Commission (EC) has fixed August 26 for nominations, September 5 for early voting and September 9 for polling for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections.
There are 166,653 eligible voters for Pulai and 40,379 for Simpang Jeram.
The media previously reported that the EC had sold eight nomination forms for both by-elections as of August 18.
The two seats fell vacant following the death of their incumbent, the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, on July 23. – Bernama, August 22, 2023