BAGAN DATUK – Gerak Independent co-founder Tawfik Ismail’s candidacy for the Bagan Datuk parliamentary constituency was almost dashed after he was allegedly sabotaged on nomination day.
Tawfik claims that the proposer for his nomination, a local Bagan Datuk resident, had disappeared 30 minutes before nomination papers were due to be submitted by 10am.
The former lawmaker and his group had arrived at the Bagan Datuk nomination centre along with the proposer and seconder at 9am.
However, while waiting in the queue as the Election Commission personnel were processing the other candidates, Tawfik’s proposer said he had to excuse himself to the bathroom.
“But he never came back. When we called him, he gave all sorts of excuses and then simply switched off his phone,” said Tawfik.
Tawfik’s team then scrambled to find a replacement and managed to find another local resident who understood their predicament and agreed to step in.
“We were very lucky in that sense, but I was still perplexed why my original proposer had disappeared.
“I don’t want to presume but it appears this whole situation seems to be orchestrated or he was planted or even bought off to execute this act,” he said.
Tawfik explained that he had met the proposer a week before, with the latter also agreeing to be his point man in Bagan Datuk and connect him with local communities and their respective leaders.
This local man had also agreed to source a number of volunteers, but this never materialised.
“I had only met this man a week before just a few days prior to me announcing my candidacy for Bagan Datuk. I had to rely on the locals here as I only announced my candidacy for the seat only a week or two before,” he said.
Presently, Tawfik and his team can only speculate about why his initial nomination proposer had acted that way, questioning whether the man was coerced or bought off or even threatened by other unknown political actors.
“We do not know what actually transpired. Attempts to get clarification from this person only lead to a few hostile and cryptic messages,” said Tawfik.
Tawfik and his team, however, did not lodge a police report on the matter.
Tawfik putting his money where his mouth is
Moving forward from the incident, Tawfik said he is doubling down on his efforts to campaign as a “clean” alternative for the people of Bagan Datuk.
Tawfik further said that the seat’s incumbent, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, is unfit to position himself as a leader of the largest Malay party and even as a national leader.
“Bagan Datuk is being represented by someone who’s facing serious charges in court on corruption, and he also happens to be the leader of the biggest Malay party in this country and by being the leader of the biggest Malay party, he proportionately represents the Malays and I don’t think that’s fair on me because I don’t think he should be speaking on my behalf as a Malay.
“I think it is up to me as a Malay to rectify this because it’s up to people like us to restore whatever dignity or self-respect of the Malays,” he said.
To advance this narrative, Tawfik said he managed to assemble some 100 volunteers to help with the campaign, with 400 more expected to join in the coming week.
He also will be pitching his narrative online as there is 95% mobile phone usage in the district.
Why contest against Pakatan Harapan?
Tawfik is part of the Gerak Independent group, which is contesting in Batu (Siti Zabedah Kassim), Wangsa Maju (Ravee Suntheralingam) and Petaling Jaya (KJ John).
All the seats see a clash between all major coalitions including Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Tawfik again reiterated that he had reached out to the PH leadership for his nomination in Bagan Datuk. However only DAP’s Lim Kit Siang had responded positively.
When asked why his other peers decided to contest as independents, Tawfik explained that their decision was not based on consensus.
“Well, I can’t speak for the others because they’re all independent. It is not a consensus. We are not tied to each other by any means. You know, when it comes to the constituency, it is up to each of us to choose which ones we want.
“The others made the choice of naming their constituencies early. But I didn’t know, I only made my choice a couple of weeks ago.
“They wanted to target Pakatan Harapan seats, for reasons best known to themselves.
“I’m targeting Barisan National seats. I’m targeting the Malay heartland seat,” he said. – The Vibes, November 9, 2022
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