BERA – While many voters spend the campaign period agitating over which candidate is worthy to receive their ballots in the general election, some local villagers in Bera are using these two weeks as an opportunity for convivial bonding while helping out with political chores.
As midnight fast approached recently, some 15 Perikatan Nasional (PN) supporters were seen gathered at the coalition’s campaign machinery centre in Kg Kuala Triang, preparing to erect flags and banners across stretches of a highway leading to the village.
Equipped with wooden poles and sticks they had painstakingly collected, and motivated by their dedication towards the coalition, the supporters said they were sacrificing their rest hours of their own free volition.
“We are all here because we believe in them (PN). All this is voluntary work – none of us are getting paid a sen to do this,” said Mohd Abdul Hadi Ramli, 35, who had joined in on the work with his childhood friends.
His village of Kg Seberang Guai is adjacent to Kg Kuala Triang in Pahang. Both settlements are within the Guai state constituency in Bera, a parliamentary district whose incumbent MP is acting prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob of Barisan Nasional (BN).
“We normally do this (putting up campaign materials) at night because everyone is busy with their jobs during the day. So this is the only time that we can all spare.
“If it weren’t for the upcoming general election (GE15), it would be hard to gather everyone here like this to catch up with one another,” said the self-employed worker.
Despite late hours, supporters were in high spirits and seemed pleased with their efforts – jesting with each other as they worked together to ensure that the materials were sturdily pitched and tied to poles.
For Sufri Imran Shamsudin, 27, the experience was thrilling as this was the first time he was getting involved in campaign work.
The activity lasted well into the early hours of the morning and ended with the men having light refreshments prepared by women supporters at the coalition’s village centre.
“My friends invited me to join them and I was curious to see what it (raising campaign materials) would be like. So I decided to come along with them,” he said, adding that he believes in the leadership of PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
With him, Muhammad Aiman Che Ya, 27, appeared in a buoyant mood, confident that their efforts to publicise the campaign materials will not go to waste, as he is sure that the displays will highlight to voters how the coalition has the backing of many villagers.
“It (erecting campaign flags and banners) is definitely 100% effective (at garnering support for PN). We are showing people that we have the drive to campaign for a party that we are putting our hopes on,” he said.
“It’s okay if we lose a few hours of sleep but we must show (voters) that we have faith in them (PN).”
The Guai state seat will see a four-cornered fight between three female candidates from the main political coalitions and one male independent candidate, Jafari Mohd Yusof.
The PN candidate here for the Pahang state assembly is Nor Hashimah Mat Noh, while Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are fielding Sabariah Saidan and Noraini Abdul Ghani respectively.
Meanwhile, the Bera parliamentary seat is set for a three-cornered fight, with Ismail Sabri facing two challengers – PN’s Datuk Asmawi Harun and PH’s Abas Awang.
Malaysians will head to the polls on November 19, with early voting scheduled for November 15. – The Vibes, November 12, 2022
