TACKLING the rising cost of living and improving quality of life are the immediate priorities for a number of first-time candidates in the Capital Governorate.
Marine engineer Majeed Yousif Mubarak, running for Parliament Constituency 7 (Jid Ali, Jirdab and Al Nasfa), is concerned about the rising unemployment level and hopes to see more technocrats in leadership positions to help drive growth for the kingdom.
“Government-supported training and education are key to helping uplift people into the middle class in the long term,” he told the GDN.
“My immediate priority, if elected, would be to foster public-private partnerships and get unemployed people hired to alleviate the burden of unemployment off the government.”
Psychiatrist Dr Sawsan Kamal, who is running for re-election as MP of Constituency Two, representing old Manama (Makharqa and Ras Ruman), Naim, Ghufool, Burhama, Soaifya, Salhiya, parts of Salmaniya and Bab Al Bahrain area, also sees preparing young unemployed Bahrainis for the workplace as the key to a healthier economy.
“We have to equip our youth with an entrepreneurial mindset so that they can positively contribute to Bahrain’s future,” she added.
For Arabic teacher Ebtihaj Khalifa, who is hoping to represent Constituency 7 (Jid Ali, Jirdab and Al Nasfa) if elected, the issues of access to housing, health and education are intertwined with ensuring a good quality of life, in the face of rising living costs.
Meanwhile, young Bahrainis turned up in large numbers to contest for the polls to make their voices heard.
Three young aspiring Bahraini MPs – Amal Ali Budhaish, aged 31, who comes from one of Manama’s jewellery families, architect Samana Haideri, aged 31, and Sayed Mohamed Alsahlawy, a social media influencer in his early 30s, each believe they are uniquely positioned to understand the issues that youth face today.
“I hope to see a lot more young people at the polls picking candidates they believe can best represent their concerns, so that we have a well-rounded government,” Ms Budhaish, who is hoping to represent Capital Governorate’s constituency Two in Parliament, told the GDN.
The constituency includes old Manama (Makharqa and Ras Ruman), Naim, Ghufool, Burhama, Soaifya, Salhiya, parts of Salmaniya and Bab Al Bahrain area.
Mr Alsahlawy is contesting from the Constituency Six, covering Tashan, Jidhafs, Musala, Adhari, South Sehla and Tubli.
He told the GDN that this campaign will tackle unemployment.
“My campaign’s motto is ‘A Decent Life for All’ – it needs no elaboration, everyone knows what it means.”
The young aspiring MP, who has an affinity for birds, hopes to galvanise his 19,000 Instagram followers and encourage them to participate in the elections.
Ms Haideri is running for the Constituency Seven which includes Jid Ali and Jurdab.
The young architect’s foremost concern is the affairs of youth, as she is young herself – only a year older than the minimum age for candidacy.
“Young people should be included in the legislative process,” she said as she explained her platform.
“Jobs must be nationalised using the skills and capabilities of Bahrain’s youth,” she added, noting that she wants to tackle the issue of temporary job contracts in the public sector, along with similar issues with long-term employment in the private sector.
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