BN HOPING TO REAP GOOD YIELD IN PERLIS

Shahidan’s reputation as an Umno giant will be put to test again

m.mustakim@nstp.com.my

THE hot and dry spell in the state since early this year may have caused discomfort to many, but it is a sheer blessing for Harumanis mango farmers.

The humid temperature in the early part of the year is crucial for the fruits to grow, and this has brought cheer to farmers, who are looking forward to a higher yield by the end of April to May.

This type of weather makes Perlis the only suitable place for Harumanis cultivation.

Its fragrant smell, golden colour and unique texture have placed the Harumanis in a class of its own. The fruit fetches a high price in local and international markets.

Just like Harumanis farmers expecting a higher yield, Barisan Nasional in Perlis is also looking forward to a favourable yield in the 14th General Election (GE14), which is expected to take place between the end of next month and early May.

The Umno-led Perlis BN government should have no problem defending the state, which has been the party’s fixed deposit for many terms.

In GE13, BN won 13 of 15 state seats, while PKR and Pas won the Indera Kayangan and Sanglang seats.

BN also retained its 100 per cent win for the three parliamentary seats in the state — Kangar, Arau and Padang Besar.

Like the Harumanis, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim is also synonymous with the state. It is as if Perlis is Shahidan and Shahidan is Perlis.

The political appeal of the 67year-old minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and former menteri besar makes him a force to be reckoned with. His experience is once again being sought to lead the BN machinery in defending the state and its three parliamentary seats.

Rumour has it that Shahidan would either defend his Arau parliamentary seat or possibly return to contest a state seat.

Should Shahidan defend the Arau constituency, it would become the hot seat in GE14 since he will lock horns with Pas spiritual leader, Hashim Jasin, or Tuan Guru, as the latter is known among Pas supporters.

Shahidan’s reputation as an Umno giant in Perlis who has never been defeated will be put to the test yet again should he face Hashim, the only opposition representative who has won the Arau parliamentary seat.

Shahidan scored a huge victory when he defeated the late Pas spiritual leader, Datuk Dr Haron Din, for the seat in GE13.

Shahidan obtained 1,371 majority votes, after garnering 19,376 votes compared with Haron’s 18,005 votes.

For Hashim, although he had won the seat in the 1998 by-election by defeating Shahidan’s younger brother, Datuk Ismail Kassim, with a majority vote of 1,323, it will be a different battle this time around.

The development Shahidan has