GE14: Langkawi gets world attention
By Hamdan Ismail
LANGKAWI, May 7 (Bernama) -- The attention and focus that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given to the resort island especially in developing the local tourism industry has fired the spirit of the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Langkawi parliamentary seat in his mission to topple a giant in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Datuk Nawawi Ahmad said the presence of the Prime Minister on the island last Friday had boosted the BN election machinery, especially against former Prime Minister and PPBM Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is contesting as PKR-PPBM candidate.
"The contest in Langkawi is different because the one who is standing is a former Prime Minister. I do not have any problems if he is contesting against me. But when Datuk Najib came here, it had a positive impact," he said when met here.
Besides Dr Mahathir, 93, Nawawi who is the incumbent for the parliamentary seat, also faces PAS candidate Zubir Ahmad, head of Langkawi PAS, earning this contest world attention.
"When Tun Dr Mahathir himself became a candidate, Langkawi got the attention of the whole nation and we feel the difference this time," he said.
Despite the extra-ordinary attention on them, Nawawi said the Langkawi BN machinery did not feel pressured and continued to move with efficiency since GE13.
"This election is a contest between parties. In GE13, we contested against PKR. This time, in GE14, we see PAS coming in with their own supporters in Langkawi," he said.
Nawawi, 57, a former engineer with Tenaga Nasional Bhd before joining politics, said what BN is offering in GE14 is a better life for the people in Langkawi.
-- BERNAMA
