Najib to help BN campaign in Cameron Highlands

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 7 years ago · Published on 14 Jan 2019 7:00AM · 8 Comments

Najib Razak at a meet-and-greet in Kg Kerinchi on Saturday. The former prime minister is set to visit Cameron Highlands for the second time campaigning for BN since its ouster from federal power last year. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, January 14, 2019.

FORMER Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Razak is expected to campaign in his home state of Pahang in the Cameron Highlands by-election.

Najib, whose father is synonymous with Felda settlements, is expected to help secure Malay votes for BN. Malays form the majority of voters there, making up 11,010 (34.4%) out of its 32,008 voters. 

In the last elections, BN (1,290) and PAS (1,233) took 87% of the total 2,888 votes in three Koyan settlements there, while Pakatan Harapan only managed 329 votes.

According to Koyan 2 Co-Op chairman Kamarul Ariffin Mat Som, the former prime minister will be in Cameron Highlands from January 18 to 20.

“His time will be split between Tanah Rata and Jelai,” Kamarul told The Malaysian Insight.

Najib is expected to spend a night in Tanah Rata and a night in Sg Koyan.

Koyan 2 second-generation Felda settler Mohd Fadzil Suparman said it was Umno Pahang’s idea for Najib to come down to the ground.

The Jelai state seat is currently held by Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and falls under the Cameron Highlands federal constituency.

This will be the second time Najib has campaigned for BN in by-elections following the coalition’s loss in the general election last year.

The first time was in Sg Kandis last July, where he took a walkabout with Umno candidate Lokman Noor Adam. However, party secretary-general Annuar Musa later denied that it was part of its election strategy.

BN’s Cameron Highlands election machinery has yet to comment on Najib’s visit next week. 

Barisan Nasional supporters on nomination day for the Cameron Highlands by-election in Pahang on Saturday. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, January 14, 2019.

Despite being charged with 39 counts of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power, Najib is still popular in the Sg Koyan Felda settlement, said Fadzil.

“We don’t know what he did, but there were fewer problems in Felda when he was prime minister.

“The price of oil palm was RM600 per tonne last June, but it is only RM400 now,” said Fadzil, who supports a family of six with his oil palm earnings.

“At RM400, I can only earn around RM1,400 per month,” said the 49-year-old, who was forced to cut his subscription to the Astro satellite television service last year to save RM140 per month.

He said the price of fresh fruit bunches sometimes went as low as RM310 per tonne.

Despite facing criminal charges, Najib has been on a charm offensive recently. In Kg Kerinchi, Pantai Dalam, on Saturday, the 65-year-old told a meet-the-people session that Malaysians missed his leadership and continued to seek his help, although he could do nothing about it now.

The Cameron Highlands battle will be fought between BN’s direct candidate Ramli Mohd Noor, Pakatan Harapan’s M. Manogaran, and independents Wong Seng Yee and Sallehuddin Ab Taib.

Polling is on January 26. – January 14, 2019.

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Comments

  • Great pic of BN supporters during nomination day.

    Posted 7 years ago by Luke Skywalker · Reply

  • Yes, Najib controls world palm oil prices. He should remain PM so that these FELDA people can earn a decent living and can resubscribe to ASTRO.

    Posted 7 years ago by J R · Reply

  • Palm oil price is affected by European import ruling. Hope the felda fellows understand the real situation. Najib got China to commit a huge purchase of the palm oil but it seems to be not true, so don't be cheated again.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • This disgraced former PM is a shameless bare faced liar.He spins stories to blame others.Rm800 million missing in the MRB/EPF scandal is one good example.

    Posted 7 years ago by Soma Govin · Reply

  • This disgraced former PM is a shameless bare faced liar.He spins stories to blame others.Rm800 million missing in the MRB/EPF scandal is one good example.

    Posted 7 years ago by Soma Govin · Reply

  • These brainless felda penerokas are beholden to this maling because they were given dedaks for a lo.ng time !

    Posted 7 years ago by Masfaliza masmuda · Reply

  • Just goes to show how easy it is to control a segment of the voter bank. In a more enlightened, educated and thinking society, the people would be baying for his blood given the amount that has been siphoned out by this kleptomaniac and his coterie.

    Posted 7 years ago by J R · Reply

  • The nomination day's picture will tell how arrogance the BN...!!!

    Posted 7 years ago by Thiagarajan Ramasamy · Reply