CAMERON Highlands voters should take with a pinch of salt the Pahang menteri besar’s promise of “You help me, I help you”, said Tanah Rata assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kong. 

Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail told the Chinese on Sunday that he would resolve the problems of temporary occupation licence (TOL), which is a bane among many farmers in the parliamentary constituency.

Chiong said today it is the duty of the state government to assist the people and it is likely Pahang will issue all the necessary permits and renew the TOL as it needs the revenue. 

“They want to collect the taxes they get from TOL,” he said.

“So, they (the voters have) no need to worry or feel threatened (to vote Barisan Nasional). They don’t need to be concerned about it,” he said at the DAP Brinchang branch today.

Wan Rosdy told the Chinese while campaigning in the run-up to Saturday’s by-election that “We need to remember the word ‘help’. I ask for your help now, and later, you can ask me for help”. 

The menteri besar also acknowledged that the TOL issue is among locals’ top complaints, he called on voters to back BN candidate Ramli Mohd Nor, saying having an MP from the pact controlling the state government will make it easier to resolve land issues. 

Chiong said that it was the duty of the menteri besar, as the head of the state government, to solve the problem.

“The federal government should also help the state government. Its not like previously when they were in debt didn’t have to pay.

“Now, everything has to follow standard operating procedures. They have to follow the law because this is according to the budget.”

The by-election will see a four-way fight between Ramli, Pakatan Harapan’s M. Manogaran, and independents Sallehudin Ab Talib and Wong Seng Yee. Early voting is being held today. 

Wan Rosdy said that together, they could help one another without difficulty.

“On January 26… when you take the ballot paper, ask yourself, ‘Can this person really help me?’ When it comes to land issues, only Ramli can help, because land comes under the state government, right?.

“Once we win, I will come up here again.” – January 22, 2019.