BARISAN Nasional (BN) candidate for the Chini by-election, Mohd Sharim Md Zain is not bothered by the issue created by certain parties that he is not Pahang-born, as it is an attempt to question his eligibility to contest.

The Kedah native said what was important was that he had lived in Felda Chini 3 for more than 40 years and was aware of what the people need.

“I do not want to think about what other people say because I know I have lived in Felda Chini 3 with my family since I was young. It is true I was born in Alor Star, Kedah because my family was originally from there but we all know that Felda settlers all came from various states,” he told Bernama.

Sharim said he has lived in Felda Chini 3 since he was two, after his family became settlers there in 1981, and he had grown up and studied in Chini with the people there.

Previously, Pahang Umno and BN leaders, including Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, have defended the decision to field Sharim as a candidate in the by-election as the issue of not being Pahang-born did not arise because Felda settlers had gone to live there after arriving from all over the country.

According to Wan Rosdy, the constituency needed a leader who understood the needs of the local people.

Meanwhile, Sharim said in his meetings with the voters since June 20, he received very positive response as he was a local candidate, and 82% of the residents in the constituency were Felda settlers.

He added that although he is facing only two independent candidates with Pakatan Harapan (PH) not fielding anyone and most people were expecting BN to enjoy a major victory in the Chini by-election, he did not want to get too comfortable.

“Even though the independent candidates do not have a big machinery behind them, we still have to be careful and make sure our machinery meets with the voters and ensure the people go out to vote on July 4,” he said.

Sharim said the machinery has to work hard as the campaign was being conducted during the recovery movement-control order period.

He added that the BN machinery adhered to the standard operating procedure set for the campaign and also used social media to reach voters.

The by-election sees a three-cornered fight between Sharim and two independent candidates, Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, 64, and Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli, 49.

The by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent, Abu Bakar Harun, 60, at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on May 7 due to a heart attack.

There are 20,990 registered voters for the by-election comprising 20,972 ordinary voters and 18 early voters. Majority of voters (56%) are aged 40 years and below. – Bernama, June 29, 2020.