Weighing all their options | The Star

Political leaders make final push to woo Kemaman voters

PETALING JAYA: In their last push for support before the Kemaman by-election tomorrow, political leaders say the battle is not only over young voters choosing between the two candidates, but for the party that will serve them best.

They will either go for the political heavyweight, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar of Perikatan Nasional, or Barisan Nasional’s direct candidate, Jen (R) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, a former Armed Forces chief.

PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden is optimistic that the recent trend of Malay youth opting for Perikatan will continue in the Kemaman by-election.

He said the youth know better than older voters that picking Ahmad Samsuri, who is also the Terengganu Mentri Besar and a PAS vice-president, will amplify the voice of the SG4 in Parliament.

SG4 denotes the informal economic group of the four state governments in Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis that are under the Opposition coalition, with Ahmad Samsuri as the lead spokesman.

“In the last state election, Ahmad Samsuri was not only re-elected but the youth also went for PAS wholly, leaving zero opposition in the state,” said Afnan Hamimi when contacted.

He also said Barisan and Pakatan Harapan leaders should stop questioning how Ahmad Samsuri would be able to juggle his various positions in the state should he be made an MP.

“Take a good look in the mirror, I tell these Putrajaya leaders. What about the Selangor MB and Penang Chief Minister who are state assemblymen doubling as MPs?” he added.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the Barisan candidate has the experience of having commanded the nation’s armed forces.

“Our candidate has the right qualities as a leader, what more as the head of the military at one time,” he said.

Dr Muhamad Akmal said they hope the youth in Kemaman who are yearning for change and development in the parliamentary constituency will take this opportunity to make that right choice.

“What Kemaman needs is a leader who can serve them 24 hours a day, not an individual who only shows up during elections to canvass for votes,” he added.