THE popularity that comes with former prime minister Najib Razak’s new image as “Bossku” is a double-edged sword, said Bersatu youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

He said locals are more interested in Najib instead of Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate in the Semenyih by-election, Zakaria Hanafi.

“I think Bossku is a double-edged sword. Everyone here is looking at Najib and not the candidate for BN,” he told reporters after a meeting with Pakatan Harapan Youth in Beranang, Semenyih, last night.

He was commenting on whether Najib’s popularity would impact on Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Muhammad Aiman Zainali in the by-election.

“I’m not here to speak ill of Najib. We want to focus more on the political services in the area,” he said.

Syed Saddiq said Aiman will focus on services for locals in Semenyih.

Najib has been gaining attention from the locals during his presence at BN’s by-election campaigns.

During his first appearance at the Bandar Tasek Kesuma flats on Sunday, Najib managed to attract a crowd of almost 500. He also attracted hundreds of supporters at a morning market walkabout yesterday.

The polls were called following the death of assemblyman Bakhtiar Mohd Nor, 57, from a heart attack on January 11.

The Semenyih by-election sees a four-cornered fight involving Aiman, Zakaria Hanafi (BN), Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul (PSM) and Kuan Chee Heng (independent). – February 21, 2019.