FIVE years ago, a Pakatan Rakyat election candidate was chased out of Felda Besout 1, one of 10 Felda settlements, in Tanjung Malim, a Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold in southern Perak.

Now, Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates are allowed to hold “ceramah kelompok” in the settlement.

Abd Rahman Zakaria, a PKR member who lives here, said the first-generation settlers had relaxed their attitude towards the opposition.

“Sentiments have improved after (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad)’s visit (in March). My neighbours are all Umno supporters but they don’t bother us,” said the ceramah host, who is a volunteer trainer at Sultan Azlan Shah Polytechnic in Behrang.

A second-generation settler said even though he feared ostracism by his Umno friends, after listening to Dr Mahathir, he was convinced it was time to change the federal government

“It’s true. Life wasn’t as tough during Tun’s time and there was no GST,” said the former Umno supporter.

PKR candidate for Tanjung Malim, Chang Lih Kang, said he was surprised to have Orang Asli youth asking him how they could volunteer to be polling and counting agents (Paca).

“This is the first time I’ve had Orang Asli volunteering to be Paca,” he said.

Orang Asli make up 5.3% of the 68,468 voters in Tanjung Malim. Malays form 55.6%, Chinese 25.6% and Indians, 13%.

In spite all the change in the people’s attitude, Chang, the Perak PKR vice-chairman and a two-term assemblyman, still sees himself as the underdog going up against Perak MCA chief Dr Mah Hang Soon.

BN retained the seat with 53% of the vote in 2013. PKR polled 45%.

PH ceramah in Pekan Trolak, Sungkai and Kpg Baru Slim River were also well received by locals, attracting between 40 and 150 people.

Part-time security guard and first time voter, Sullochena, 34, said she willing to give Chang a chance, at a ceramah kelompok in Pekan Trolak.

With a monthly income of RM600, Sullochena said she is most concerned about the future of her two children aged 15 and 17.

“My son has quit school to take care of my husband (who is visually impaired after suffering a work accident). My younger daughter is still in school, I hope ‘Lai Chee Kang’ can really help us,” she.

Lai Chee Kang, a popular dessert, is a nickname Chang created for himself to help voters remember him easily.

Chang has endeared himself to Kpg Baru Slim River folk, who would hang out with him in his bilik gerakan after he is done with the ceramah for the day.

A middle-aged homemaker in the Chinese new village said all her three children would be coming back from Singapore to vote come May 9.

Voters below the age of 40, whom pollsters said are pro-change, make up 40.7% of the electorate in Tanjung Malim. – May 5, 2018.