From Shah Alam to Titiwangsa: Can Khalid Samad win the Malay vote?

A three-term MP for Shah Alam, Amanah's Khalid Samad is no stranger to the race for support in elections. 

But sent to contest in Titiwangsa at the upcoming polls, it remains to be seen how he will fare in the search for support from Malay voters in the area. 

Khalid first won the Shah Alam seat in 2008, when he was still with Islamist party PAS.

He later left PAS, joining Amanah instead. At the last general election in 2018, his first under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner, he defended his seat with a majority of 33,849 votes. 

This time around, the focus is on the extent to which he will be able to win the support of the Malay voters in Titiwangsa, as his election success so far was less dependent on this segment of the electorate. 

Some voters who spoke to MalaysiaNow said Khalid was daydreaming if he thought he could win in the 15th general election. 

Maranon Mohd Ali, 59, said Khalid would have a tough fight ahead as the residents in Titiwangsa viewed him as an "outsider" despite his prominence in national politics. 

He also said that Khalid's performance as a Cabinet member had been less than satisfactory, and that some of his remarks as federal territories minister were not well received. 

"If he was so good in Shah Alam, PH wouldn't have shifted him here to Titiwangsa," he said. 

Khalid previously denied talk that he had been fielded in Titiwangsa as part of an attempt to kill off his political career, maintaining that his party Amanah had sent him there in recognition of his potential. 

In Titiwangsa, he faces Johari Abdul Ghani of Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional's Rosni Adam, and Khairuddin Abu Hassan of Pejuang. 

Dzulafian Idris, 48, expects a tight race between Khalid and Johari given their political prominence.

However, he said Johari might have the edge as he was a local from Kampung Baru. 

"But this is all part of election custom," he said. 

"Even if the candidate is not from here, we are a democracy. Anyone can contest anywhere." 

Dewi Murni, 45, recalled Johari's shock loss to Bersatu women's chief Rina Harun at the 14th general election. 

Nevertheless, Dewi said the "tsunami" of votes in PH's favour might not happen again this time. 

"I'm not sure if the majority of voters want Khalid or not. 

"But I feel it would be better if candidates are from this area, because they would have a better understanding of the problems on the ground."