SOLDIERS based in Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan are divided over a forced by-election in the seaside town featuring PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim, but all agree that a veterans group does not speak for them in the matter of the polls to come.

While some feel the by-election to be a waste of money and time, younger army personnel are excited at the prospect of Anwar returning to Parliament.

One and all, however, are in agreement when it comes to rejecting the National Patriots Association (Patriot) as their spokesman: “Patriot does not represent the entire military. They should not speak for us”.

PKR has announced that Anwar will contest the Port Dickson parliamentary seat upon the resignation of MP Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, a retired senior naval officer.

Anwar’s decision to usurp the seat has not gone down well with an officer, whodid not want to be named. 

“It is not right. It is not right for the MP to give up his seat, simply because the people had voted him in,” the officer told The Malaysian Insight.

Another officer, who also requested anonymity, said: “Putting Anwar here so that he can be prime minister is not a good enough reason for Danyal to give up his seat.”

The by-election was unjustified, the second officer said, because “Danyal did not die – he resigned. And that’s different.”

“Anwar will definitely win but by a narrow margin because the voters will not come out to vote. A by-election now is of no importance to them because the 14th general election has just concluded. 

The younger military men in Port Dickson, however, have a different view of the by-election; some are even excited about the event,

Amran said it would be the first time he was voting in Port Dickson as he was in Sarawak previously. 

“I see my younger friends are impatient for Anwar to contest again. Who does not know Anwar? The young soldiers want Anwar to rise (to the prime minister’s office),” the 32-year-old Amran said.

The young soldier, however, hoped that Anwar would not forget Port Dickson after he had become the MP and later, the PM.

“Develop Port Dickson so that it can be another huge tourist destination, like Dr Mahathir did for Langkawi,” Amran said.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir’ Mohamad is the Langkawi MP in Kedah.

The soldiers represent a large chunk of early voters in Port Dickson with more than 7,084 votes. 

The constituency formerly known as Teluk Kemang has 75,212 voters with a Malay majority of 42% , Chinese (33%), and Indians (22%).

Danyal won the seat in GE14 by 36,225 votes beating MIC’s V Mogan and PAS’  Mahfuz Roslan.

Danyal earned the wrath of Patriot when he announced his decision to vacate the seat for Anwar.

Patriot had hit out at Anwar and PKR for removing Danyal, whom they had looked upon as their representative in Parliament. 

They also trained their guns at Danyal for “betraying” the members of the armed forces who had voted him in.

Patriot president Brigadier General (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji had warned that the army in Port Dickson could vote for the opposition in the by-election.

Some army personnel, however, told The Malaysian Insight that the veterans did not represent the entire military, especially those serving in Port Dickson. 

“Patriot is a veterans organisation and is not tied to the government, unlike the people who are still serving. 

“Patriot does not represent all soldiers,” a captain, who wished to remain unidentified, said.

He said the soldiers would decide on who to vote for after considering several factors, including who the candidates were.

An army vet, identified only as Rahimi, said Arshad and Patriot did not know the sentiments in Port Dickson. 

“Patriot does not know what happens in Port Dickson. They are not even here, they are in Kuala Lumpur,” the 45-year old said.  –  September 19, 2018.