BN: Mat Razi is our man
(The Star) – Citing its track record in Pengkalan Kubor, Barisan Nasional said it has fielded the most suitable candidate to continue the good work of the late assemblyman Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar.
PAS, for its part, said it has chosen “the best person” to wrest back the constituency from Barisan.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Mat Razi Mat Ail was the man to pick up where Noor Zahidi left off.
“The late Noor Zahidi had contributed tremendously to the local community and served them well. In fact, he was a role model on how wakil rakyat should serve their constituents.
“I believe Mat Razi can continue the work of his predecessor and constituents should give him a chance to serve them,” he said when met during nominations for the by-election.
Liow also said the absence of PKR and DAP leaders reflected Pakatan’s instability, which was why voters should support Barisan as they have done since 2004.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said:
“Who the Opposition fields is not an issue. What is important is how strong our people on the ground are and how well the election machinery works,” he said.
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the 45% electorate of 24,000 who are outsation voters hold the key to victory.
He added that the Umno Youth election machinery that he was launching would focus on these voters to help Barisan win.
Khairy, who is Youth and Sports Minister, said young campaigners must start going to the ground to meet as many voters as they can.
He also said Barisan campaigners should not take voters for granted just because the constituency is supposed to be a stronghold of the coalition.
Barisan Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil said it was easy for voters to accept Mat Razi, thanks to the good service of the late assemblyman.
“He is truly a local boy and we believe that he can serve the people and fight for them,” she said.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu described the party’s candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim as “the best person to challenge Barisan” in Pengkalan Kubor.
“We have confidence in him and we believe he can win back the seat for us,” he added.
PKR vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said his party shared the confidence and would help in the campaign.
“Even though PKR made way for PAS to contest here, we are not washing our hands. We will work alongside PAS to help Wan Rosdi win,” he added.
