BOTH MCA and Umno are confident that Tanjung Malim, a Malay-majority seat in southern Perak, will remain a safe seat for Barisan Nasional.

“I believe MCA shouldn’t have much problems defending the seat,” MCA Perak chief and executive councillor Dr Mah Hang Soon told The Malaysian Insight.

The Chenderiang assemblyman is a potential candidate to replace incumbent Tanjung Malim MP and MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan. 

Both figures are popular with MCA members in the constituency. 

Dr Mah said his confidence stems from BN’s electoral record in Tanjung Malim, a seat MCA has never lost.

Gunung Besout Umno division chief Alias Salion said Felda settlers in Tg Malim will remain loyal to BN. There are several Felda settlements in the constituency: Besout 1-7, Trolak, Sungai Behrang and Sg Klah.

“This is BN’s strongest fortress. We’re grateful for all that the government has given us: land, house, clinic, internet centre, they have also written off part of the debt with FGV (Felda Global Ventures).

“Life has never been difficult (in Felda). However much we owe, the government never knocked on our doors. If it’s a bank, after one month, we would have received a letter. We don’t want change that will threaten our peace,” said Alias, also the chief settler at Besout 1.

He said they will not stop Pakatan Harapan (PH) top leaders from visiting the settlement but he does not understand why PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad would not stop attacking BN.

“We cannot stop him. This is a democracy… Why can’t he retire like Abdullah Ahmad Badawi?” said Alias, referring to the former prime minister’s successor.

PH is holding a ceramah in Gunung Besout 1 tonight.

Gunung Besout 1 Umno Wanita head, Rodziah Baseran, said only a handful of settlers have become pro-opposition. 

“We have no problems here. I don’t know why they are still angry,” she said. 

Outside Felda, loyal BN supporters said they do feel the pinch of rising prices of goods but they would still vote for BN, rain or shine.

A 71-year-old street vendor in Trolak, who only wanted to known as Mar, said she has backed Umno since she voted for the first time almost five decades ago. 

“I don’t like to see people fighting. Everyone should vote based on their hearts… Just watch the TV, who is not corrupted?” she said.

A PAS member from Felda Sungai Behrang, who only wanted to be known as Othman, said he has not decided who to vote for.

“Every five years, the people become the judge. I don’t support BN but (Dr) Mahathir’s record is also bad. See-lah,” said the settler in his 80s.

The local imam from the Sg Behrang settlement said he will support current Prime Minister Najib Razak because he increased monthly allowance of imam from RM750 to RM850 in 2016.

“The raise was for all imam in the country. My children will all vote for BN… But when I die, I don’t know,” said the settler.

Only a 54-year-old Malay street vendor in Sungkai that The Malaysian Insight visited said he would vote for DAP as long as its leaders do not abuse public funds.

“If DAP can be fair to all, I don’t mind. As long as they don’t cheat the people’s money,” said the PAS member who declined to be named.

As of 2017 last quarter, Tg Malim is made up of 55.5% Malay, Chinese (25.6%), Indian (13%) and Orang Asli (5.86%) voters. It has a total of 68,634 voters. – March 16, 2018.