BARISAN Nasional’s (BN) decision to field a newcomer, Shahril Sufian Hamdan, in the Kuala Langat parliamentary seat has gotten mixed reactions from the locals.

The 32-year-old Umno Youth exco member is one of the party’s few young faces in the elections. He is contesting against PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar and PAS candidate Dr Yahya Baba, a former Klang Hospital director.

During a walkabout in Kampung Sungai Bumbun on Carey Island, yesterday, Shahril told the 30 people who had received him that he would care for the welfare of voters on the island known for its its seafood and oil palm plantations. It is also the home of the Mah Meri Orang Asli tribe.

Kuala Langat Umno Youth committee member Yahya Sidin, who is of the Mah Meri community, said Shahril had pledged to look into gazetting land for the Orang Asli community.

“Gazetting of this land has long been talked about but has never been done.

“It is what we want mainly, and I have brought it up with Shahril who said it would be his priority if he was given the mandate by the people,” said Yahya, 38.

Yahya said Shahril was a breath of fresh air for voters here who had voted for the opposition in the last two general elections. The PKR candidate won the seat in 2013 with a 5,358 vote majority.

Another local who wished to be known as Husin, said he had not heard much of Shahril and hoped to see more of him on the island. 

“I don’t see him around. Our main priority here is to get our land gazetted so I hope he will do that if he wins,” said the 43-year-old.

In Sijangkang, a 36-year-old local who identified himself as Nisa said she knew Shahril was the BN’s candidate but that was about it.

“It does seem like he is good at interacting with the locals. We will just have to wait and see what he can offer,” she said.

Another local, Shahman Said, 52, said it would be difficult for Shahril to wrest the seat from PKR after two terms.

“BN could not deliver so they asked for a change.

“A young face might bring a change, but it would be difficult,” he said. 

Shahril said his campaign strategy was to connect with the people.

“There is no substitute for face-to-face campaign meetings to convince people of our message

“I’m focusing on what I can offer the people – ideas and initiatives that will make a significant change to their quality of life,” he told Malaysia Decides. – May 6, 2018.