A ROAD in the sleepy town of Kg Jalan Kebun in Sg Kandis is named after Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni’s father and shows the extent of support the locals have for this unassuming local religious leader and his family’s legacy.

But “Ustaz Zawawi”, as the locals refer to him, is not only known because he is Pak Imam Mughni’s son, but is well respected because he has always looked out for the poor and underprivileged, they said.

“At the mosque, as a result of Zawawi’s idea, there is a special area for people to donate items to the poor.

“Whoever needs daily provisions, such as rice, cooking oil and so on, can just help themselves at the mosque,” said Rosli Shawal, 62, a local resident of Jalan Kebun.

Zawawi is the Pakatan Harapan candidate for the August 4 Sg Kandis by-election, which was called following the death of former assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei on July 2 of cancer.

Kg Jalan Kebun was first established in 1914 by Javanese immigrants from Indonesia. Javanese is still widely used to communicate today, especially among the older townsfolk.

The strong ties to their Javanese heritage is the reason many of the locals are drawn to Zawawi, who speaks Javanese fluently.

“When he speaks Javanese, the people like it because we can identify. Language is an effective campaigning tool,” said Abdul Mutalib Yusof, 45, who was one of those present at Zawawi’s campaign at a food stall yesterday.

The locals’ familiarity with Zawawi contrasts starkly against Barisan Nasional’s candidate, Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam, who hails from Johor.

Most locals who spoke to The Malaysian Insight admit to knowing very little of Lokman.

“We see Ustaz Zawawi when he gives his sermon at the mosque and his wife also has a role in the mosque. Lokman, we don’t really know yet,” said Mutalib.

Mokhtar Mohd Kassim, 68, said many locals saw Zawawi as a local boy made good.

“We are proud that Ustaz Zawawi is a candidate, we’ve never had a local boy as a candidate. Whatever people say, we will vote for Ustaz Zawawi,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Apart from Zawawi and Lokman, independent candidate K. Murthy will also be standing for the seat.

Sg Kandis will be the first by-election since the May 9 general election. – July 23, 2018.