Dato' Harrison bin Hassan is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Jeram since August 2023. He is a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition and was a member, Division Deputy Chief of Sungai Buloh and Youth Working Secretary of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.[1][2]

Harrison Hassan
حَارِصُون حَسَّان
Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly
for Jeram
Assumed office
12 August 2023
Preceded byMohd Shaid Rosli
(PHBERSATU)
Majority5,398 (2023)
Personal details
Born
Harrison bin Hassan
CitizenshipMalaysian
NationalityMalaysia
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
(until 2023)
Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU)
(since 2023)
Other political
affiliations
Barisan Nasional (BN)
(until 2023)
Perikatan Nasional (PN)
(since 2023)
OccupationPolitician

Political career

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Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly (since 2023)

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2023 Selangor state election

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In the 2023 Selangor state election, Harrison made his electoral debut after being nominated by PN to contest the Jeram state seat. Harrison won the seat and was elected to the Selangor State Legislative Assembly as the Jeram MLA for the first term after defeating Jahaya Ibrahim of BN by a majority of 5,398 votes.[3]

During the campaigning period, former Minister of Health and former UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin appeared to help Harrison and spent time with Harrison during a meet-and-greet session with Jeram voters. He supported Harrison as the latter was his friend and colleague in UMNO Youth and added that it was the right time for Harrison to contest in elections. He also cited the experience, knowledge, hardworking and realistic behaviour of Hassan that would make him an excellent Jeram MLA.[4]

Controversies and issues

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Being sacked from UMNO and joining BERSATU

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On 28 July 2023, Deputy Prime Minister, BN Chairman and UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the automatic termination of Hassan as an UMNO Member after the latter was announced as a candidate representing PN and BERSATU, of which UMNO was a political enemy. Ahmad Zahid also said that UMNO needed members who were loyal to the party and not those who were not as well as responding unsurprisingly due to his earlier knowledge of his defection.[5] In response, Harrison said his decision of switching party was based on the demands of the people who wanted political changes although he was labelled as a 'traitor'. He further stated that he struggled sincerely without any forces or pressures and did not forcefully follow any idols. He further defended his move by claiming that BN and UMNO were still in old politics while he was not.[6]

Personal life

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Idolising Hishammuddin Hussein

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He idolised the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sembrong Hishammuddin Hussein whom he previously worked with in the Ministry of Defence. He shared that Hishammuddin was shocked and positive of learning the news of him contesting elections and hugged him.[7]

Health

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During his late campaigning period, Harrison was forced to use a crutch after suffering swelling in his ankle. His injury however did not stop him from going down to the ground to meet the voters. He attributed it to possibly walking too much during the period. He described it as a test for him as he was determined to visit all 13 polling stations in Jeram and to meet as many voters as possible.[8]

Election results

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Selangor State Legislative Assembly[9]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2023 N12 Jeram Harrison Hassan (BERSATU) 16,731 59.62% Jahaya Ibrahim (UMNO) 11,333 40.38% 28,064 5,398 76.45%

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Y.B. Dato' Harrison Bin Hassan". Dewan Negeri Selangor (in Malay). Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Jadi calon PN, timbalan ketua Umno Sungai Buloh lucut keahlian". Free Malaysia Today (in Malay). 27 July 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Selangor polls: Official Results". New Straits Times. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Khairy joins in Perikatan campaign in Jeram to back former Umno Youth colleague". Malay Mail. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  5. ^ "PRN: Ahmad Zahid tidak terkejut Harrison Hassan tanding tiket PN". Malaysia Gazette (in Malay). 27 July 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  6. ^ "'Saya tukar parti demi tuntutan rakyat' - Harrison". Sinar Harian (in Malay). 10 August 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  7. ^ "PRN: Hishammuddin idola calon PN Harrison Hassan". Astro Awani (in Malay). 7 August 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  8. ^ "PRN: Biar bertongkat, Harrison datang bertemu pengundi". My Metro (in Malay). 12 August 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Negeri Selangor ke-15" (in Malay). Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat". www.istiadat.gov.my.