MALAY voters in Sungai Bakap want living cost issues to be resolved and the assurance that their interests will be protected from their prospective assemblyman.
Ahead of the by-election tomorrow, hawker Mohd Yusoff Din said he is struggling to make ends meet although he has a job.
"It is pricey to operate my mee goreng stall as the raw produce is escalating and I have healthcare issues to deal with also," he said.
"At times when I go to the government clinic, they say they have run out of certain medicines and tell me to get it at private pharmacies. The cost is then tenfold."
The 54-year-old said he reads reports that inflation has been brought under control but that is not reflected in reality.
Rosmah Hussein, a housewife, 50, said many jobs are simply not paying enough for people to cope with inflation.
Mosque official Idris Harun, 45, he will support the political party that can protect the interests of the Malays, particularly the low-income group.
Idris said that for such matters to be realised, the incoming assemblyman must be visible and be attentive to the plight of the people.
Sungai Bakap is a semi-urban locality with parts bordering Kulim-Bandar Baharu in Kedah and Bukit Mertajam as well as Batu Kawan in Penang.
Idris said that there are many water supply disruptions in Sungai Bakap.
Penang Free School old boy Mokhtar Bidin Yusoff said he supports the policies advocated by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli on reining in public debt but it must also be remonstrated with the ability of the average person to survive rising consumer prices.
A group of campaign workers from Terengganu said the current government cannot pass the buck when it comes to living costs.
"We know that Rafizi said the issue and debt were inherited, but poverty is still rampant and it is his duty to do something about it."
Political analyst Rahmad Isahak said the issues confronting the Malay electorate in Sungai Bakap are real although some have dismissed them as trivial such as the Israel-linked global investment group, Blackrock's investment interests in Malaysia.
"The Malay Muslims do not condone what Israel is now doing in Gaza so they also cannot tolerate companies linked to the Zionist rule," said Rahmad.
He also said the National Water Services Commission should not have raised the surcharge for water, as the hike would likely be passed on to the consumers.
The by-election was called after its incumbent from PAS Nor Zamri Latiff passed away two months ago.
Some 39,000 voters comprising 59% Malays, 22% Chinese, 17% Indians and 0.71% others will go to the polls tomorrow.
It is a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan's Dr Joohari Ariffin and Perikatan Nasional candidate Abang Abidin Ismail. – July 5, 2024.
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