Sharim unfazed by birthplace remarks
BARISAN Nasional (BN) candidate for the Chini state seat by-election, Mohd Sharim Md Zain, is not bothered by the statements of certain parties that he was not born in Pahang.
He said while it is true that he was born in Alor Star, Kedah, what was important was that he had lived in Felda Chini 3 near here for more than 40 years and was aware of what the people here needed.
“I do not want to think about what other people say because I know I have lived in Felda Chini 3 with my family since I was young. It is true I was born in Alor Star, Kedah, because my family was originally from there but we all know that Felda settlers all came from various states,” he told
Bernama.
Sharim said he had lived in Felda Chini 3 since he was 2 years old after his family became settlers there in 1981, and he had grown up and studied in Chini with the people there.
Previously, Pahang Umno and BN leaders, including Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, had defended the decision to field Sharim in the byelection as the issue of not being Pahang-born did not arise because Felda settlers had gone to live there after they arrived from all over the country.
According to Wan Rosdy, the constituency needed a leader who understood the needs of the local people.
Meanwhile,
Sharim said that in his meetings with the voters since June 20, he received very positive response as he was a local candidate, and 82 per cent of the residents in the constituency were Felda settlers.
He added that although he faced only two independent candidates and most people expected BN to enjoy a major victory in the by-election, he did not want to be too comfortable with the situation.
“Even though the independent candidates do not have a big machinery behind them, we still have to be careful and make sure our machinery meets with the voters and ensure they go out to vote on July 4,” he said.
Meanwhile, a team from the Fire and Rescue Department here conducted disinfection at the Chini police station to prevent Covid-19 infection, ahead of the by-election early voting today.
Chini Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Fadzirllah Zainal Abidin said the team was also prepared to face any emergencies during the by-election.
“We are following the SOP (standard operating procedures) stipulated by the government, including social distancing protocols, sanitisation as well as monitoring the centre itself.
“As for disinfection at all polling centres, it will depend on the directive from the Pekan district council,” he said.
Fadzirllah was met after a visit by Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib to the new Chini Fire and Rescue Station near the Kuantan-Segamat Highway (Tun Razak Highway) here.
Some 18 early voters comprising police personnel will cast their votes today.
The by-election is a three-cornered fight between Sharim, Tengku Datuk Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli. The by-election under the Pekan parliamentary constituency is the first to be held since the Movement Control Order was implemented on March 18.
I do not want to think about what other people say because I know I have lived in Felda Chini 3 with my family since I was young.