700 islanders from five islands set to cast ballots

MERSING: Almost 700 residents on five islands around here will be among those casting their votes in the constituency known for its white sandy beaches and popular diving spots.

Most are fishermen while some operate homestays and other businesses on the islands.

Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Abd Latif Bandi said many of these voters were now on the mainland and would be returning to their islands to vote.

“Most are from Pulai Tinggi with 209 voters, followed by Pulau Aur (186), Pulau Sibu (171), Pulau Pemanggil (96) and Pulau Besar (34),” he said, adding that on polling day tomorrow, boats would be provided to ferry them to their polling centres on each island.

He said village heads on each island had their own boats and he hoped they would be able to provide transport for the voters.

“Besides people living on islands, we also have a large Orang Asli community in this constituency,” he said when met during a walkabout.

Abd Latif, 56, who has been embroiled in a corruption case, said he spent five years clearing his name.

On Aug 7, the Johor Baru Sessions Court acquitted the former state housing and local government executive councillor, his son Ahmad Fauzan Hatim, 30, and a property consultant, Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, 49, of all corruption and money laundering charges related to a land and housing scandal in 2017.

“The Opposition is still using the court case to tarnish my name. However, I have been acquitted by the courts – that is why Barisan fielded me here,” he said.

Abd Latif will be contesting against four others – from Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, Pejuang and an independent.

Perikatan is fielding Dr Abdul Latiff’s former political secretary Muhammad Islahuddin Abas, 34.

The seat was previously held by Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad for six terms before he switched to Bersatu after GE14 in 2018.