BUKIT MERTAJAM, May 1 – The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Permatang Pauh by-election, Suhaimi Sabudin, has so far covered over 60 per cent of the areas in the constituency in his bid to win the hearts and votes of the people since the nomination day on April 25.
The 43-year-old candidate said, during his walkabout to various public places, the response he received from the voters was indeed overwhelming. “Alhamdulillah (All praise be to Allah), the response is very good…from the Malays, Chinese, Indians alike. They lauded my nomination as the BN candidate.
“They also shared their problems and expressed hope that I would be able to help them if I’m elected as the new Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh,” he said when met at his mother’s house in Guar Jering near here Friday. He said most of the problems raised by the Malays was the overall infrastructure shortage.
“I promised them that the problem will be addressed if I’m elected because each BN Member of Parliament will receive certain allocation from the federal government,” he said. For the Chinese and Indian residents, Suhaimi said they were more focused to have a little help to boost their businesses.
“That is why in our manifesto for the by-election, which was launched yesterday, BN has pledged to provide special micro credit facilities for small traders in Permatang Pauh and to set up a centre to develop small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, regardless of race.
“The implementation of these economic programmes is vital in rural areas,” said the candidate, who is always accompanied by his wife, Firyal Harlina Napiah, 42. Suhaimi also pledged that during the few remaining days of his campaign, he would try to meet with as many voters as possible and prove his and BN’s determination and commitment to serve them and bring more development to the constituency.
The Permatang Pauh by-election on May 7 witnesses a four-cornered fight between Suhaimi, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR), Azman Shah Othman (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Salleh Isahak (Independent). Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat has 71,890 voters with Malays made up 70 per cent of the electorate.
