Sons of Jusohs face off
Pakatan hopeful aims for an upset win over Idris
KUALA TERENGGANU: Engineer Datuk Wan Nazari Wan Jusoh is taking on Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh this round but the newcomer is unfazed by the prospect of facing the giant of Besut.
In fact, the 58yearold Pakatan Harapan hopeful from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has great admiration for Idris.
“Idris is a nice man who has brought changes here as mentri besar and later a minister,” he said.
“But he is part of a government which we need to fight to change.”
Should he conquer Besut, he plans to see some of Idris’ plans through, including the longabandoned Tembila Knowledge Park, over which the Opposition used to criticise the state government.
The 280ha park was conceptualised in 2004 in the hopes of turning Besut into a knowledge hub. Construction began in 2007 but was impeded by a lack of funds.
The project was recently revived with the establishment of a dedicated entity which will care for its upkeep.
The park is also set to be home to the newly minted Universiti P. Ram lee as well as Universiti Malaysia Kelantan and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.
He also plans to rejuvenate Besut, Terengganu’s northernmost constituency, and among his aspirations is to improve the lives of padi farmers there through innovative irrigation.
He is confident that his years with the state Department of Irrigation and Drainage would help him in his quest to boost the harvests for farmers.
“Currently, they are producing about four metric tonnes per hectare but this is set to improve with the changes I have in mind,” he said.
Wan Nazari and Idris will contest in a threecornered fight against PAS’ Dr Riduan Mohamad Nor.
In GE13, Dr Riduan lost to Idris by a majority of 8,342 votes in a straight fight.