BENTONG – Candidates for the Bentong federal seat are geared up to face the upcoming national polls (GE15), having confirmed their candidacies today.
DAP’s Young Syefura Othman urged locals here to cast their ballots for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition to ensure a corruption-free government.
Commenting on the large crowd of Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters stationed outside the nomination centre here today, she said the gathering does not necessarily mean that BN has the voters’ support.
“BN’s crowd (of supporters) might look more lively (than PH’s) but we are sure that Bentong will back PH when polling day comes,” she told reporters.
“We are willing to go out and meet every citizen (in Bentong) to make sure we have their vote, including those in the rural areas.”
Party supporters, with BN’s camp far eclipsing those from other parties, had stood outside the nomination centre here for about three hours as candidates submitted their nomination papers.
Young added that should she secure the Bentong parliamentary constituency, she will be focusing on improving Bentong as a tourist destination while also encouraging its agriculture sector.
GE15 marks Young’s first time contesting for a federal seat as she was previously the Ketari assemblywoman under the Pahang state legislative assembly.
On a similar note, former MCA president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai said he has long noticed how development efforts in Bentong appear to have taken a backseat, to the detriment of the district.
“The development in Bentong is stunted, and I know that the people here want to see proper work done,” he said when met by reporters.
“The people of Bentong know me well. I hope they will not be manipulated by certain slogans, since they can compare my work with that of the former MP.”
Liow was referring to incumbent Bentong MP Wong Tack, who will be defending his seat as an independent candidate after being axed by DAP for Young.
During the previous general election, Wong had interrupted Liow’s four-term reign over the area with a majority of just over 2,000 votes.
Wong had earlier told reporters that he will be contesting using the hoe logo, which is symbolic of the inroads he has made among the community here.
Liow also pointed out that the PH administration had attempted to divert the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) passage away from Bentong, contrary to the original plans proposed by BN.
“Under (Wong), development was not properly done (in Bentong) and they (PH) even tried to take away the things that we already have,” he said.
“(The ECRL project) is very important in Bentong and it must be made a priority as we look into making the district a tourist hub.”
Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Datuk Roslan Hassan is banking on the support from rural villagers to ensure his spot in the Bentong seat.
“Most of my fans are in the outskirts of Bentong, that’s why you don’t see many of them here today,” he said when asked to comment on BN and PH diehards far outnumbering PN supporters.
“I will be starting my campaign trails from the villages, where many issues have been left unaddressed by previous MPs,” he said.
The stage for a five-cornered battle has been set in Bentong, with the returning officer announcing at around 1pm that all submitted applications by candidates have been accepted.
Besides the candidates mentioned above, another independent candidate, Khalil Abdul Hamid, will also be vying for the Bentong federal seat. – The Vibes, November 5, 2022
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