JITRA, May 3 – The nomination of Kedah Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir as the BN candidate for Ayer Hitam has been welcomed by many, especially young voters and fence sitters.
The announcement reinforced speculation that Mukhriz would be the preferred choice as Menteri Besar if BN wins back Kedah in the general election, despite Mukhriz’s repeated remark it was too early to think about it.
While campaigning after nomination on April 20, many residents and voters in Ayer Hitam constituency said they had enough and lost confidence in the Kedah PAS government.
Ibrahim Abdul Razak, 60, from Kampung Pida said Mukhriz brought many changes to the people since he won Jerlun parliamentary seat in 2008.
“I hope he wins the Ayer Hitam state seat.”
He said the PAS state assemblyman for Ayer Hitam did not bring any progress to the constituency since five years ago.
“The roads in my kampung are in bad condition. Aid to poor families are given by the BN federal government via Datuk Muhkriz and Datuk Abu Hasan Sarif, the Jerlun Umno division chief,” he said.
Siti Zainab Hashim, 63, is also tired of the PAS-led government and said the party has forgotten its promises to the people there.
“There is no development at all and life has been difficult. Look at the roads, there are potholes here and there,” she said.
Hasnah Ahmad, 49, from Kampung Seberang Kuala said she fully support Mukhriz whom she described as a friendly and approachable leader.
“I am also very hopeful that BN can capture Kedah and Mukhriz can become the Menteri Besar,” she said.
Mukhriz, who is also Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry said over the last five years, many projects had been implemented in Jerlun with the support of federal government.
“Masjid Telaga Batu is 70 per cent completed, SMK Sanglang is 90 percent completed while four new fishermen’s piers have been built. We will build SMK Agama Jerlun and a sports centre for the benefit of youths, all in the next five years.”
He said the Kedah BN manifesto to develop Jerlun as the oil and gas hub will create thousands of jobs thus improving the people’s standard of living.
“We are not talking about jobs that pay RM300 to RM400 but high income jobs offering salary of over RM10,000 monthly.”
Mukhriz is involved in a straight fight with incumbent Abd Ghani Ahmad from PAS for Ayer Hitam, a state seat within Jerlun parliamentary constituency.
BERNAMA
