KOTA BARU: A 32-year-old former banker turned businessman has been given the opportunity to turn giant killer after he was nominated to stand against two big names in Kelantan for the Kota Baru parliamentary seat.
Fikhran Hamshi Mohamad Fatmi was named as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to take on Parti Amanah Negara vice-president Husam Musa and Pas secretary general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.
He was among 15 young candidates who would be battling it out in Kelantan in the coming 14th general election (GE14).
The others include Pasir Mas Umno Youth chief Nor Asmawi Ab Rahman, 44, who has been fielded in the Pasir Mas parliamentary seat, Kelantan Umno Youth chief Mohamad Azam Ismail, 41, (Kadok state seat) and Malaysian Youth Council permanent chairman Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim, 38, (Galas state seat).
Fikhran, who is Kota Baru Umno division chief Tan Sri Mohamad Fatmi Che Salleh’s son, said he was confident that his tender age would be an advantage for BN in fighting for the seat.
"I am aware that Kota Baru is a Pas fortress and the expected three cornered fight for the seat against Husam and Takiyuddin is not going to be easy.
“They are big names in Kelantan but we have to see their performance record and what they have achieved all this while. I have received feedback that people are not all that happy for the services rendered by Takiyuddin in the one term that he has been MP here,” he said.
Fikhran said Husam on the other hand was an outsider who was parachuting to Kota Baru to contest.
“I am from here... I grew up here and I am close to the youth here...I know what they want and BN can deliver it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Azam said BN would go all out to deliver on promises that had been outlined in its manifesto.
He said Kadok had the potential to be turned into a sports and cultural excellence centre for the greater good of youths in the constituency.
Meanwhile, Mohd Syahbuddin who is also Malaysian Association of Youth Council (MAYC) president said the selection of young candidates this time around showed that BN was serious in its youth development agenda.
“In Galas, we hope to transform this rural area into a developed one. The focus would be on developing the second generation Felda and Felcra settlers,” he said.