PONTIAN – It is only logical to field a Malay candidate in a Malay-dominant area, said DAP’s candidate for the parliamentary constituency here.
Shazwan Zdainal Abidin, who received his watikah (candidate appointment letter) barely 24 hours before nomination day on November 5, is one of the three Malay candidates from DAP in Johor.
He said if Malay leaders in DAP were to be picked as candidates in party strongholds with sizable Chinese population, it would only add to the false narrative that Malays rejected DAP.
“When will we be able to quash the connotation that Malays reject DAP if we don’t venture into a Malay-dominant area?
“If I were to win this seat, it meant that DAP has the rakyat’s support and we can make inroads into other Malay dominant areas,” said the Batu Pahat native when met at the town here yesterday.
Shazwan, who was in the oil and gas sector before becoming a full-time politician five years ago, said DAP’s strong work ethic in the areas it serves won his support and subsequently convinced him to join the Chinese-dominant party.
“When DAP has a foothold in a place, it is difficult for it to leave and just abandon the area. I would say that DAP is the best service-based party, which is why I am attracted to it.
“Plus, those who slander the party do not mingle with its grassroots and are only fed hearsay. For example, most did not realise that DAP, during its (2012) congress in Shah Alam, pledged to defend the special rights of Malays and the Bumiputeras.”
Shazwan, who is also secretary for DAP and Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Batu Pahat division, admitted that he faces a huge challenge against incumbent Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan of Barisan Nasional (BN).
Also in the fray are Perikatan Nasional-Bersatu Isa Ab Hamid and Pejuang’s Jamaludin Mohamad.
Shazwan said although Ahmad won the seat with only 833 votes, the wave of change that helped PH topple BN in 2018 is not evident this time around, especially in Pontian.
“But a small wave wants youth to be given the chance here in Pontian, even among Umno members. From what I heard, they rejected Ahmad Maslan (and wanted a new face).
“This is evident during my walkabout where some older folks would welcome and encourage me.”
There are 75,212 registered voters in Pontian for GE15, which Shazwan said, is made up of 46% voters between the ages of 18 and 29.
Shazwan said PH would stand a better chance in wresting the seat from BN should a large majority of the young voters, who live and work outside of Pontian, return to vote on polling day.
He said efforts are being made to ensure a large voter turnout – but did not share more details.
The other two Malay DAP candidates in Johor are Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali for Ayer Hitam and Fatin Zulaikha Zaidi for Mersing. Apart from Sheikh Umar, who is a former Johor state executive councillor, Shazwan and Fatin are making their election debut this year. – The Vibes, November 11, 2022
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