Najib joins candidates during market walkabout
SEMENYIH: The bid for the Semenyih state seat has grown intense among the political parties with three candidates campaigning at the same venue, while former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also made an appearance.
Barisan Nasional candidate Zakaria Hanafi, Muhammad Aiman Zainali of Pakatan Harapan and PSM candidate Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul were all at the Beranang morning market at the same time yesterday.
Loudspeakers blared with speeches from representatives of different parties lobbying for support from the market patrons.
Najib, who is campaigning for Zakaria, met market-goers before dropping by several houses of poor people in the constituency.
“I’m not the candidate and I’m not the president of the party. I’m only here in my personal capacity as a Barisan leader to help the election machinery win this (by-election).
“What the voters want to hear is not about me, but about what the government or party can do in terms of development,” he added.
On PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s snide comment that Najib should bring his wife along to campaign, Najib retorted that Azmin’s wife would also certainly have “all kinds of stories” to tell, though he did not elaborate.
On talk that his appearances in Semenyih was just part of his antics, Najib said the focus of the by-election should not be directed at him.
“These are very petty things, very personal. This by-election is not about me, it is about the rakyat. We need to focus on fighting for the people’s rights and issues that involve the people,” he added.
Also present at the market walkabout with Najib were deputy Umno president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and party member Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos.
Meanwhile, vendor Hilman Haziq was selling T-shirts with the word “Bossku” printed on them from the boot of his car, which was parked near the market.
According to the 22-year-old, the T-shirt, priced at RM25 each were selling well.