Hope yet for BN to clinch Raub parliamentary seat
RAUB, May 4 (Bernama) -- Felda settler Ali Ismail has voiced his disappointment over the opposition Member of Parliament in Raub saying that he had failed to help his constituents during their times of hardship.
The 55-year-old from Felda Lembah Klau, an area under the Raub parliamentary constituency, said that the MP had not carried out his duties and had not provided the necessary aid during the many calamities they faced.
"When we were faced with water cuts, fires and even a storm that resulted in roofs being blown away, the opposition MP did not provide any help."
"Such acts on the part of the opposition only betrays the trust the people have in them, " he added.
In the last general election, DAP won the Raub parliamentary seat after its candidate Datuk Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz defeated Barisan Nasional's (BN) Datuk Hoh Khai Mun from MCA with a majority of 2,814 votes.
Prior to the last general election, the Raub parliamentary seat was a BN stronghold held by former Tourism Minister Tan Sri Ng Yen Yen from 1999 to 2008.
In the 14th general election (GE14), there is a three-cornered fight between BN´s Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji (PKR) and Mohamed Nilam Abdul Manap (PAS).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during a recent event at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pahang branch Campus here, had reminded the people to vote for a party that can deliver and not one that will offer only empty promises.
"For those who have made the mistake of choosing the wrong party, let not the bananas bear fruit twice.
"Look for a party that will provide you benefits and a better life for the people, " said Najib.
Meanwhile, political analyst Che Hamdan Che Mohd Razali said Chew, the former Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, had a fair chance of winning the Raub parliamentary seat.
"The DAP is confident of retaining the seat as the incumbent candidate is from the DAP. However, the BN is all energised and raring to go with the support of local leaders and its many constituents, " he added.
Che Hamdan, who is a senior lecturer at UiTM's Faculty of Administration and Policy Studies at the campus here, said that BN would be able to achieve victory based on the cooperation between the MCA and UMNO, the two main component parties of BN.
However, he said the BN machinery should focus on the difficulties faced by Raub´s rural community.
"It has to look into the unfair increase in the prices of items and imbalance in the development of the area.
"The move is also in line with the BN campaign motto of 'Together Developing Raub' which will bring about benefits to the area´s residents as can be seen from the development and presence of higher education institutions like UiTM Raub," he said.
-- BERNAMA
