KUALA LUMPUR: The people in Lembah Pantai are divided over who they want as MP. Although some are all for incumbent PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar to remain as the MP for Lembah Pantai, a considerable number of others want Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, instead, to win the parliamentary seat.
Suraya Abd Khalid, 41, said “in the past five years that PKR has held the area, I have yet to see anything”.
“Even though Nurul Izzah has been here for five years, I have not seen many changes. There probably are [changes], but they have not been significant.
“Furthermore, the opposition can only be seen when it is nearing election time,” she said.
Suraya also claimed that aid from PKR would only come when there are deaths of senior citizens.
“The only obvious assistance from them [PKR] would be when there is a death of a senior citizen, the family would be given RM2,000. But even that, details have to be registered at the PKR office beforehand,” said Suraya who works at her sister’s stall.
Mohamad Azlishah, 30, who helps out at his brother’s bicycle shop, however, expressed hope for the incumbent MP to remain as the Lembah Pantai MP.
“I hope she will remain as MP here as she has done so much for the constituency. The things she have done are more personal in nature; they are more on the rakyat’s wellbeing.
“Nurul Izzah always makes surprise visits and does not use the media whenever she does this. Her works are void of publicity.
“If you are really sincere, you do not need to do something and let others know about it,” said Azlishah who has been living in Lembah Pantai since he was born.
“I say this based on what I have observed, even though my mother used to be a Wanita Umno member.
“Recently, there was a fire at a workshop near here. Although she did not dress well at the time, that was secondary because the most important thing was that she came at 3am to help,” he said.
50-50 fight
Khatijah Yaacob, 54, on the other hand, said that Nurul Izzah has indeed gone down to the ground to be there for her constituents.
“If she has money, I’m sure she would have done more [for the constituency].
“She visits when there are deaths and also joins when there are feasts,” said the fruit-seller.
When asked the chances of both parties in winning the constituency, she said that both candidates have 50% chance of winning.
Receptionist Siti Sarina also echoed Khatijah’s view that both Raja Nong Chik and Nurul Izzah have 50% chance of winning in the coming election.
“I do see Nurul Izzah coming down during visits at the Kerinchi PPR [Program Perumahan Rakyat] and the 1Malaysia clinic,” said the 43-year-old.
However, she admitted that Nurul Izzah’s weakness is in terms of helping the constituents.
“This is probably because she has less chance to help. As the Federal Territories Minister, Raja Nong Chik’s strength is on the various developments [undertaken] in Lembah Pantai,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Padil Abdullah, 56, said there is a 70% chance in favour of Raja Nong Chik winning the constituency.
“He has done so much for the constituency, especially in terms of giving loans.
“The only strength of the opposition is its ceramah. It has a lot of ceramah and many will come. The BN side also has many people joining but it lacks credible speakers,” said Padil, who is the vice- chairman for the Pantai Dalam Petty Trader’s Association.
Eddy (not his real name), who is in his 50s, predicted that the scales will tip to Nurul Izzah in winning in the coming election.
“If people say that she has not done much, it’s simple, really. What more can be done when we already have all of these things?
“The roads are already there, what more is there to do? How about making two-tiered roads, instead?” said the father of five.
Stallowner Rosna Wahab, 54, said that Nurul Izzah has an 80% chance of maintaining her parliamentary seat.
“From what I’ve read in the Internet, most people favour her to win. I also always see her meeting the constituents at the night markets, housing areas and shops,” she said.
Raja Nong Chik more helpful
However her son, Mohd Saiful, 30, holds an opposite opinion from his mother’s.
“I think it’s going to be 80% to Raja Nong Chik. He has been more helpful while Nurul Izzah rarely meets the rakyat.
“Furthermore, Raja Nong Chik has done a lot for the constituency,” said Saiful who owns the stall with his mother.
“Although we live under the same roof, we still have differing opinions,” smiles Rosna.
Freelance Perodua car dealer Mumtaj Ali, 34, is of the opinion that Raja Nong Chik has a 60% chance of winning the constituency.
“Everybody here knows Raja Nong Chik. Nurul Izzah will only come when there are issues,” she said.
Although she expressed hope for Raja Nong Chik’s victory, she admitted that the ceramah made by Nurul Izzah so far have had overwhelming response.
“Quite a number of people have attended her ceramah, that’s why I say Raja Nong Chik has a 60% chance of winning because I think it is going to be a close fight.
“But personally, as long as we live peacefully, that’s the most important thing. Malaysia is still safe and I want it to remain safe.
“Although the BN rule has been long, there is no harm to still give BN a chance to change certain things that need to be changed,” she said.
Lembah Pantai has 72,533 voters, of whom Malays make 55.3%, Chinese 22.8%, Indians 20% and others the rest.
It will see a three-cornered fight involving incument Nurul Izzah, Raja Nong Chik and Independent Rusli Baba.
None of the locals that FMT spoke to gave any chance to Rusli.
