ELATED by the presence of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin in their village, Pakatan Harapan supporters in Kampung Naga, Jitra, believe that the Kubang Pasu parliamentary seat will fall to PH in the 14th general election.

They said Daim’s decision to drop by the village before flying back to Kuala Lumpur was a meaningful gesture and helped lift their spirit.

“I can’t wait to vote for PH on May 9. We will make sure that this seat is won by the PH candidate.

“This seat was once held by Dr Mahathir Mohamad so we have to make sure that it will return to his party,” Muhammad Rashidi, 38, told Malaysia Decides after the session with Daim ended.

Bersatu fielded former PAS leader Amiruddin Hamzah to contest in Kubang Pasu, with Mukhriz Mahathir and Halimahton Saadiah Saad contesting the Jitra and Bukit Kayu Hitam state seats respectively.

Dr Mahathir was Kubang Pasu MP from 1974 to 2004 before he was succeeded by his former political secretary, Johari Baharum.

The seat was considered a safe seat for BN following the majority of 10,444 votes it received in the last general election. The two state seats under Kubang Pasu, Bukit Kayu Hitam and Jitra, were also won by BN.

“This is an Umno stronghold, but I believe we will see a change of party representing Kubang Pasu because people are stressed over the high costs of living,” 63-year-old PAS member Jamaluddin Ali, who attended the session, said.

More than 80% of the constituency’s 73,881 voters are Malay. The seat has never fallen into the hands of the opposition.

“Now it’s all up to the Malay voters to bring about change here. Tun Daim is hoping for voters here to change and that’s what we will try to convince people to do,” Humaidi Harun, 31, said.

Kubang Pasu Bersatu division chief Hairy Md Saad also hoped the positive impact of Daim’s presence in Kubang Pasu today could be translated into votes for PH.

“Kubang Pasu people really know him, especially the older people here.

“It definitely boosts our chances of winning here when he tells the village folk in person that our economy can be recovered in the first 18 months,” Hairy said.

After making an appearance at a ceramah by Azmin Ali in Port Klang, Selangor, last night, the close ally of Dr Mahathir came to Pendang before coming to Kubang Pasu.

He spoke about the state of the nation, urging people to vote for PH for their children’s sake. – May 1, 2018.