PH, BN CANDIDATES SHARE INSIGHTS
There may be four people contesting the Semenyih by-election, but all eyes are on the Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional candidates. SYED UMAR ARIFF spends a few minutes jotting down the thoughts of the main players
Question: What is your “X-factor” in this by-election? Answer: I am very approachable and that is my X-factor. When I meet the people, it doesn’t matter if they are young or old, I can tell that I am well accepted by them all.
Maybe, that is one of the factors that can be translated into votes for me.
But what I want to do is to meet as many voters as possible in Semenyih, so that they can get to know me and my plans better.
Q: In the event of your victory, what is your aspiration for the people of Semenyih?
A: The first thing I want to do is address local issues and rehabilitate public amenities and old government buildings, such as fixing the roof of the market in Kampung Baru Cina and potholes on the road.
We will work with the local government to resolve these issues. There are also plans to turn Semenyih into a “Bandar Ilmu” (Town of Knowledge).
I want to gather as many youths as possible to volunteer in this programme to develop and create awareness among Semenyih residents about the importance of education so that they can stand on their own two feet.
Q: Can you elaborate on “Bandar Ilmu”?
A: This is partly inspired by my late father-in-law. I would like to continue what my late father-inlaw (Bakhtiar Mohd Nor) had wanted to do in his struggles to fight for the less fortunate in Semenyih.
So, one of the things that I would fight for is to help the less fortunate, just like what he had done, but I have hopes to help the needy through education as well.
My late father-in-law had plans to provide land so that in the future, the needy would have their own homes.
Other than aspirations in education, I want to work on sports development in Semenyih.
We have seen national footballers from Semenyih like (S.) Kunalan. I hope to produce more able athletes from here.
Q: So what is your plan to win over Malay voters here? A: Bumiputera issues are big (and one of them) is that they feel their rights must be defended.
PH upholds the principles of the (Federal) Constitution, which stipulates that the rights of the Malay rulers and the Malays’ special rights would not be sidelined, while protecting the rights and interests of the other races.
PH is upholding the aspirations to defend all races without neglecting their rights and that is what I uphold.
Q: What do you have to say about the cost of living issue, which is one of the main topics in this by-election?
A: If we feel that the cost of living is high and the people are feeling the pinch, then in Selangor, we have this initiative called “Peduli Rakyat”.
So, everything (is covered) — right from birth until the day we leave this world — we have initiatives for everything.
We have prepared everything so the only thing we need to do is to point the people to the right channel so that they can receive help.
Question: Can Semenyih be a barometer of the people’s support for BN?
Answer: Looking at the situation, yes. This is because Selangor has been under the rule of PH since 2008. I do not doubt that some problems have been resolved, but it is not felt or seen by the people.
A number of (policies) were made, but in the end, there were many about-turns. As such, this by-election can be considered a referendum on the promises made by the government. Q: During the Cameron Highlands by-election, PH accused BN of fanning racial sentiments and that led to the latter’s victory. What are your thoughts?
A: The situation in Cameron Highlands is different from Semenyih, and the mindset of the people here is different. Such an approach (fanning racial sentiments) has never been employed here (in Semenyih). I see that the people here, regardless of their background, share the same problem, which involves promises not kept by the government.
That is the most common issue and I hope that an opposition member (would be elected to the state assembly) for checks and balances.
Q: Some say that win or lose, the outcome for BN will not bring anything to the political landscape.
A: Yes, if I win the by-election, it will not bring change to the Selangor (political) landscape. But then again, the people’s voice is keramat (divine). For me, this is an opportunity, especially for the people in Semenyih to show to the PH government the strength of their voice. If PH is too strong, the people’s voice will go unheeded.
Q: Can you elaborate on the ongoing Pas-Umno nexus, following recent controversies surrounding the pact?
A: As of now, I am grateful that the cooperation shown during the Cameron Highlands by-election has been translated into another pact here.
Based on our mission, I see that the cooperation between the two parties is based on the same conviction.
Q: How do you rate the acceptance of young voters towards BN now, since the coalition’s defeat in the 14th General Election?
A: Surprisingly, the young voters I met are quite friendly with us. Back then (pre-GE14), they do not even want to look at us, or even shake our hands. But the story today is different.