Shahrir: It’s the candidate that counts in winning an election
(The Star) – It is not the symbol but the candidate that counts in winning an election, says Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.
The Johor Baru MP, who once contested and won on an Independent ticket, said he chose the “three keys” symbol during a by-election for the seat.
“The reason was because almost everybody had keys. It was something anyone could relate to,” he said, when interviewed by The Star.
Shahrir added that his “keys” were red against a bright yellow background.
“The colours were outstanding as none of the other parties competing at that time had used the bright combination,” he said.
He added, however, that the symbol was not the key to his success in that 1988 by-election.
Shahrir said he promoted his symbol through stickers and pamphlets as well as when going door-to-door.
“I then left it to the voters to decide who would be most suitable to represent them.”
Shahrir, who won the Johor Baru seat as a Barisan Nasional candidate in 1978, said his success as an Independent was purely due to his bond with the people in the constituency.
He was sacked from Umno in the events leading to the Malaysian constitutional crisis and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah‘s challenge to then prime minister and party president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He then resigned from the seat and ran for re-election in the resulting by-election as an Independent. A year later, he returned to Umno.
Shahrir, who was Federal Territory minister before his sacking, said many politicians and political parties would blame “the whole world” if the electorate rejected them.
He said these disgruntled people would also blame the police and the Election Commission for their failure.
“They should never belittle voters. I believe that if you work hard and build a heart-to-heart connection with the people, there is no reason why you should not win,” said Shahrir, who was also once a Welfare, Youth and Sports minister and a deputy Trade and Industry minister.
He added: “No matter how many posters you put up, or how attractive your symbol may be, the people will vote for the person who they believe has the essence of leadership.”
