Outgoing Johor assemblywoman Marina Ibrahim has strongly rejected claims that she is unwilling to contest in Malay-majority constituencies or prefers to remain in politically “safe” seats.
In a lengthy social media post on Tuesday night, Marina defended her political track record, insisting she has spent years working on the ground in predominantly Malay areas and has never shied away from difficult assignments.
The Skudai assemblywoman revealed that as early as 2021, she was assigned to carry out grassroots work and establish a community centre in Layang-Layang, a constituency where she was expected to contest in the future.
“At that time, I was still new, inexperienced and learning the ropes of politics. I was sent to work in Layang-Layang and was expected to face Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who was then Johor’s Tourism, Youth and Sports Exco member,” she said.
Her remarks came days after she announced that she would not be contesting in any future elections and would be stepping away from active politics altogether.
Marina stressed that she has never had an issue working in Malay-majority constituencies and pointed out that much of her work was carried out alongside volunteers who had no political background but were committed to serving the community.
She also dismissed suggestions that her presence was the sole reason her party gained traction in Malay areas, reminding critics that she served as campaign manager in Mersing during the 2022 General Election.
According to Marina, the candidate fielded there contested in a constituency with roughly 76 per cent Malay voters and successfully avoided losing their deposit despite making a first electoral appearance.
“If the real intention was to expand the party’s influence in Malay-majority areas, a coordinator should have been appointed there long ago. Grassroots members have repeatedly raised this issue, yet where is the coordinator now?” she questioned.
Marina also opened up about the challenges she faced while campaigning, recalling how she and a Chinese female friend went door-to-door in Felda settlements distributing flyers and meeting villagers during election campaigns.
In one particularly painful memory, she revealed that she had once been spat on by an elderly man while carrying out campaign activities.
“I am a Malay woman who campaigned and was spat in the face by an uncle during a campaign. I’ve faced those experiences myself,” she said.
The former assemblywoman emphasised that her decision not to defend her Skudai seat had nothing to do with frustration, disappointment or a desire to seek an easier electoral battleground.
“This isn’t about whether I can win or lose. PKR’s Gopalakrishnan won in Tiram in 2018 by a majority of just over 1,500 votes. My decision has nothing to do with sulking or wanting a comfortable seat. That’s nonsense,” she said.
Marina concluded by paying tribute to her team of volunteers, describing them as the backbone of her political journey. She said many came from different races and religions, yet remained by her side through every challenge and fully understood the reasons behind her decision to leave politics.
“They were with me through everything. That’s why I respect them so much when making this decision,” she added.
