PAKATAN Harapan failed to draw a crowd at its first public ceramah in Cameron Highlands last night despite fielding two of its stars.

Mohamad Sabu and Lim Guan Eng, who are among two of the pact’s best speakers on the ceramah circuit, managed a crowd no larger than 200 at the central Dataran Felda, beside the Sultan Ahmad Shah mosque.

On top of that, the crowd mainly consisted of party volunteers who have been campaigning for candidate M. Manogaran in Sg Koyan for the Cameron Highlands by-election for the past five days.

The poor turnout aside, Lim pitched the pact’s case.

Lim said Jelai voters can double their benefits by having representatives from both the state and federal governments.

“Jelai already has the menteri besar (Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail) and he will help develop this area as the state government. So, why don’t you pick a candidate from the federal government, too, so that we can jointly develop Cameron Highlands,” said Lim. 

The state government is unable to develop Cameron Highlands on its own as the state finances are weak, he said. 

The finance minister said Pahang owed Putrajaya some RM3.1 billion, the highest sum among the states. 

“With debts everywhere, how can the state help build Cameron Highlands and Sg Koyan?”

He said if BN wins the seat again, there will be no competition to develop the area as both seats – Jelai and Cameron Highlands – will come from the same party.

“Voters can only judge who is better if this seat is represented by two different parties,” said the DAP secretary-general.

The ceramah also featured Ketari assemblyman Young Syefura Othman and Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah.

Lim then asked how BN hoped to help its constituents when Umno’s, MCA’s and MIC’s accounts are frozen for allegedly accepting money from 1MDB.

“Even they win, they still have to find money to pay back 1MDB. So, how can they help constituents when they can’t help themselves?”

Lim said the federal government will not forsake Cameron Highlands even if PH loses there.

Koyan 1 Felda settler Abdul Malik Ibrahim found the information and clarifications last night reasonable.

“The Felda payments are delayed as it has no more money. This is caused by the previous government,” said the 75-year-old Raub native.

Malik said he was dumbfounded by the low turnout when asked about it.

“It’s up to them. In my opinion, I think most of them don’t want change. But I do. And that’s why I came,” said the first-generation settler.

Winning in Sg Koyan is crucial if PH aims to capture the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat.

The Sg Koyan area has three Felda settlements. Of the 2,888 votes here, BN and PAS had 87% of the vote with 1,290 and 1,233 respectively while PH could only win 329 at GE14.

PAS is backing BN candidate Ramli Mohd Nor. – January 17, 2019.