Harapan's Gen Z bet: Can Mukhlis overcome 'strawberry' label in Kuala Linggi?

Muhammad Mukhlisul Mubin Julasapiyah, the 22-year-old candidate for the PH Kuala Linggi constituency, made a statement at a media briefing in the PH Melaka Party Headquarters. He expressed his determination to work harder to win the hearts of voters, drawing inspiration from his father's five-fold loss in the same seat. His father, Julasapiyah Kassim, never stopped serving the people of Kuala Linggi even after failing to win elections multiple times.

He cited his father's unwavering commitment to the people, regardless of the setbacks, as a guiding light in his own political journey. "If my father contested five times and lost all five, I might have had to work seven times to win the hearts of people in Kuala Linggi," he said. Born into a family where politics and community service are deeply ingrained, Mukhlis took pride in his father's dedication, saying, "Even after losing, he continued his service."

The young candidate aims to bring a fresh and revitalized approach to politics in Kuala Linggi, hoping to restore confidence in the role of politicians in improving the quality of life for the community. However, he emphasized that this ambition extends beyond the youth, touching upon issues like local fishermen and frequent flooding affecting various parts of the constituency.

Responding to social media criticisms, including accusations about his academic qualifications, Mukhlis stated that he does not consider such criticisms as setbacks. He acknowledged that facing risk is an inherent part of entering the political field. "I cannot say that criticism is unproductive, because it is the risk we take by entering the political arena," he said.

Mukhlis also denied allegations that he failed to complete his undergraduate degree in law at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Instead, he clarified that his faculty has already cleared all his grades, and he is scheduled to attend his graduation ceremony on November 22, eight days after the PRN Melaka voting day. As the youngest candidate in this PRN, Mukhlis made his debut appearance in the election, facing three opponents from the Barisan Nasional, namely Rosli Abdullah, and Farhana Hamzah from Parti Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).