KUALA LUMPUR, May 1- Although Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Seri G. Palanivel is a new face to the Cameron Highlands parliamentry constituency, the locals are already comfortable with his presence there. They are hopeful that the highlands will continue developing under BN’s leadership.
An employee of a convinience store in Tanah Rata, Rizal Mat Salleh, 37, is confident Palanivel would be able to win over the hearts of the locals, based on his position as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and also MIC president.
“If one is to compare all the five candidates, I don’t know anyone except Datuk Palanivel; so, how are we to vote someone whom we don’t know?,” he asked when contacted by Bernama from here.
A hotel employee, Khairul Faizal Zaidin, 23, said residents in the highlands, regardless of race and religion, would keep their allegiance to BN which worked hard in providing facilities and necessities.
“Cameron Highlands has transformed drastically, as compared with 20 years ago, especially in the hospitality and agricultural sector…In my younger days,
Cameron was never busy like this, especially during Saturdays and Sundays, where it is teeming with cars and buses from outside.
“From the infrastructure point of view, the once remote place is now connected by more than one road, making it easier for locals to move about,” he said, referring to the new alternative roads connecting Simpang Pulai in Perak and Bentong (Pahang).
Commenting on BN’s performance there so far, he said, the party had contributed tremendously in improving the livelihood of the locals through many assistance, including loans for farmers and the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M).
Pensioner V. Ramasamy, 66, said he had seen Cameron Highlands evolve since he first settled here, about 55 years ago.
“Previously, when I was new here, this place was only a town and was surrounded by jungles and fog…but now, we see many housing areas and tall buildings,” he explained.
The ex-employee of Telekom Malaysia is confident that Cameron Highlands will continue doing well under BN’s leadership, especially through the many policies and transformation rolled out by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. On his views about Palanivel, Ramasamy said the MIC president had been making several trips to Cameron Highlands since more than a year ago.
“Yes, initially many felt uncomfortable upon learning that incumbent Datuk S. K. Devamany will be moved to the Sungai Siput parliamentary constituency, but after learning that Palanivel was earnesty helping the locals, we are comfortable with him now,” he said.
Lidia Pandak, 24, an orang asli, also concurred with Ramasamy, saying the government had never let down the people in Cameron Highlands. Recently, a brief survey carried out by Bernama in Cameron Highlands, indicated the optimism of the people over BN.
The huge crowd which turned up to support the coalition on nomination day was testament enough to the optimism. The Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat was held by Devamany, who is also deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and MIC vice-president, over the last two terms.
In the coming general election, Palanivel battles DAP’s M. Manogaran, Mohd Shokri Mahmood (Berjasa) and two Independents N. P. Kisho Kumar and T. Alagu.
BERNAMA
