Most Kajang voters want Khalid to stay as Selangor MB, survey shows

(MM) – Nearly two in three voters in Kajang want Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to continue as Selangor mentri besar, a survey by Universiti Selangor (Unisel) showed today.

In a report of the survey’s results published by Utusan Malaysia today, Unisel lecturer Dr Muhammad Shamshinor Abdul Azzis said the results were influenced by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s disqualification from contesting the March 23 by-election.

“One of the factors was the change of PKR candidate from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the party’s president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah (Wan Ismail),” said the senior lecturer of education and social science faculty.

PKR was forced to field Dr Wan Azizah as substitute after the Court of Appeal reversed Anwar’s previous sodomy acquittal and sentenced him to five year’s jail on March 7, just days before nomination for the poll.

Other factors influencing the voters’ perception were current issues such as rising living cost, religion, and water issue with 74 per cent agreed to continue the building of Langat 2 water treatment.

A previous survey by the Universiti Malaya Centre for Elections and Democracy (Umcedel) last month showed that 59 per cent Kajang voters want Anwar to become the state’s mentri besar.

The latest Unisel survey also put Khalid ahead of Anwar as well as archrival and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali in terms of popularity, with 69 per cent approving of the Selangor MB versus Anwar’s 66 per cent and Azmin’s 42.3 per cent.

The survey carried out from March 12 to March 16, 394 voters were based on their political affiliation, with 65.5 per cent political party supporters and 34.5 per cent fence sitters.

The March 23 Kajang by-election was triggered by the unforced resignation of PKR’s Lee Chin Cheh to make way for Anwar to contest the state seat.

After Anwar’s disqualification, Wan Azizah will face MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun in this Sunday’s poll.