Kartiyaini Jeyapalan

Summary

Kartiyaini Jeyapalan is a DAP first-time candidate standing for the N48 Skudai seat in the 16th Johor State Election (polling day: July 11, 2026), fielded under the Pakatan Harapan coalition. A Skudai native with a law degree from Universiti Malaya and over a decade of community service in the area, she also serves as assistant organising secretary in the Johor DAP state committee (2024–2027). She faces a four-cornered fight in one of Johor's most populous constituencies, stepping into a seat vacated by 2022 PH-DAP incumbent Marina Ibrahim.

Biography

Kartiyaini Jeyapalan is a DAP politician and first-time state election candidate contesting the N48 Skudai seat in the 16th Johor State Legislative Assembly election, scheduled for July 11, 2026 [1]. She was born, raised, and educated in Skudai before pursuing a law degree at Universiti Malaya [1]. According to DAP deputy national chairman Nga Kor Ming, she served the Skudai community for over a decade prior to being fielded as a candidate [1]. Within the party organisation, she serves as an assistant to the organising secretary of the Johor DAP state committee for the 2024–2027 term [2][1]. She was named as PH's candidate for Skudai on June 22, 2026, as part of PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement of the coalition's full 56-candidate slate for the Johor election [2]. Skudai (N48) is a large constituency with 106,805 registered voters; the seat was previously held by PH-DAP's Marina Ibrahim, who won by a majority of 13,943 votes in 2022 and chose not to defend the seat [3]. Kartiyaini faces a four-cornered contest against BN's Tan Hiang Kee, PSM's Amir Syafiq Ameer Soekre, and Bersama's Eugene Chua [3]. DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo accompanied her at nomination day proceedings [3].

Known for

Kartiyaini Jeyapalan is known as a long-serving DAP community worker from Skudai who holds a law degree from Universiti Malaya. She was selected by Pakatan Harapan as its candidate for the N48 Skudai seat in the 2026 Johor state election, marking her first electoral contest. She also serves in the Johor DAP state committee as assistant organising secretary for the 2024–2027 term.

Political positions

No publicly reported policy positions or statements by Kartiyaini Jeyapalan on specific issues have been found in allowlist sources at the time of this profile. She is fielded under the Pakatan Harapan banner under the coalition's campaign slogan 'Johor ke depan' (Johor forward). DAP deputy national chairman Nga Kor Ming described her role as being 'a strong bridge between the local community and the federal government', though no independent policy stances attributed directly to her have been verified from allowlist sources.

Education

1. Prior to 2026Pursued a law degree at Universiti Malaya, having been born, raised, and educated locally in Skudai before attending university.⛓

Before politics

1. Over a decade prior to 2026Served the Skudai community for over a decade in a non-elected capacity before being fielded as an electoral candidate, according to DAP deputy national chairman Nga Kor Ming.⛓

Political career

1. October 2024Elected as assistant to the organising secretary of the Johor DAP state committee for the 2024–2027 term at the Johor DAP convention.⛓
2. June 2026Named as Pakatan Harapan's candidate for the N48 Skudai state seat in the 16th Johor State Election by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.⛓
3. 27 June 2026Formally nominated as a candidate for N48 Skudai on nomination day; DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo was among party leaders accompanying her at the nomination centre.⛓

Election history

• 2026N48 Skudai, JohorPending⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentDAP deputy national chairman Nga Kor Ming stated that Kartiyaini Jeyapalan was selected on merit after multiple rounds of vetting, describing her as someone who would 'champion the people and act as a strong bridge between the local community and the federal government'.⛓
• VerifiedFactsSkudai (N48) has 106,805 registered voters and was won by PH-DAP incumbent Marina Ibrahim in 2022 with a majority of 13,943 votes in a three-cornered contest. Marina Ibrahim chose not to defend the seat in 2026. Polling day is July 11, 2026.⛓
• ExpertPolitical analysts cited by The Star noted that PH's fielding of new faces such as Kartiyaini Jeyapalan reflects an attempt to project renewal, though reliance on first-time candidates carries electoral risks in seats where local machinery and voter familiarity are decisive.⛓