The Malaysian Insight is running a series on marginal parliamentary seats as the nation heads towards the 14th general election. In Padang Rengas, an outspoken Umno minister looks to win his seat for the sixth time.

OUTWARDLY, Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz seems to be under siege as he gets drawn deeper into a feud with MCA politicians – his allies in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

It is a spat that the veteran minister and five-term MP cannot afford if he wants to retain the Padang Rengas parliamentary seat in GE14.

Nazri’s majority in the 13th general election was 2,230 votes, a margin that a determined Pakatan Harapan coalition is cautiously optimistic it can overcome.

Padang Rengas PKR chief Alias Ibrahim believes that rising cost of living and low rubber prices that have hit rural voters will turn people against BN.

But despite these challenges, Nazri, the outspoken tourism and culture minister, is confident that his personal touch and service record with constituents will carry the day.

A loyalist to Umno president Najib Razak, Nazri conceded that it would be a tough fight if he contests again.

“Ever since 2008, no general election can be considered easy for Barisan Nasional. After 2013, it gets tougher.

“If I’m nominated to represent BN again, I have to work hard to make sure I get as many votes as possible,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Nazri takes a practical view towards winning elections, a strategy he learned from former prime minister now turned opposition chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Dr Mahathir used to tell me, he was my sifu. He said he needs only 50% of the vote plus one, that’s all, I agree with him totally.

“I don’t want to waste my time trying to get everybody to support me. I get 50% plus one that’s good enough, it will give me another five years. It’s practical.”

Open doors

Nazri said he returns to Padang Rengas every weekend as long as he does not need to go abroad on official duties.

The door to his official residence, near the Kuala Kangsar train station, is usually open to the public.

Members of the Aunties Club, a social club for Chinese villagers Nazri set up, would hang out at his residence during the weekends.

The Chinese make up 17% of Padang Rengas’ 28,518 voters, while Malays and Indians make up the rest at 76% and 16% respectively.  

“To them, it’s a big deal. It’s a minister’s house and I’m hosting them. They gave me all these Chinese delicacies for Chinese New Year,” said the Umno Supreme Council member.

Club members told The Malaysian Insight that they are not bothered about the public spat between Nazri and MCA leaders over tycoon Robert Kuok.

MCA chastised Nazri over the remarks on Kuok, who is well respected among the Chinese and the minister’s claim that the party no longer represents the Chinese.

MCA members held a protest yesterday demanding Nazri’s resignation.  

“As a politician my branding is that, since I was young, I have always said it as it is. I never lie,” said Nazri of his sharp tongue.

“I don’t like to pretend. I don’t like to do drama. I say it as it is, whether you like it or not, it’s okay by me.”

Changing ground

Nazri does not think low rubber prices and bread-and-butter issues will have that big of an impact on his chances.

“Of course, everyone is affected (by low rubber prices) but they are not just rubber tappers. They are also smallholders. They also plant vegetables. They have farms.

“They are fine. No problem. The kampung folks here are very hardworking. They are very proud people. They won’t come and beg from you.”

PKR’s Alias strongly disagrees with Nazri’s comments that life is rosy for everyone in Padang Rengas.

“We have members in kampung that were hardcore BN supporters in the past. Nazri is like an actor, so the people also put up an act in front of him,” he said.

Other PKR activists tell of how the ground sentiment is changing even among BN supporters.

“In the past, they will fight back when we talk about Najib’s excesses but now they would just keep quiet,” said a 65-year-old housewife who declined to be named.

Alias believes that even in a three-cornered fight among BN, PAS and Pakatan Harapan, of which PKR is a member, PH still stood a good chance.

PKR contested the seat in the last three general elections and Alias believes it can also pull support among PAS members.

“We’re friends with PAS members. Not everyone likes (PAS president Abdul) Hadi Awang but they love the party so they stayed in the party.” – March 4, 2018.