KUANTAN: Unperturbed by DAP's surprise move to pick a young female candidate for the Ketari state constituency in the 14th General Election(GE14), Gerakan Pahang remains upbeat and optimistic they will walk away as winners on May 9.
The unprecedented move by DAP's top leadership to name Young Syefura Othman, 28,to retain the seat won by the party in the 13th General Election(GE13) had caught many by surprise but State Gerakan chairman Tee Yew said his camp was always prepared for any eventuality.
Tee said Gerakan's Ketari state seat coordinator Datuk Lau Hoi Keong has been working hard to win over the people in the constituency after DAP's Lee Chin Chen beat retired teacher Woong Choo Yak from MCA in 2013.
"Lau has opened his service centre in Ketari and has been regularly going around meeting the people and helping to find solutions for their problems. The people in the constituency are prepared for changes and feel that it is time for them to return to support Barisan Nasional (BN).
"We have not heard much about DAP's new candidate and she seems to be a new face to the constituency. The people should reject parachute candidates who only appear during the election and instead pick the person who has been serving Ketari longer," he said when contacted.
Tee said Lau has also formed a strong link with Bentong parliamentary seat candidate Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and he hoped their partnership will help transform the people's support into votes in a bid to help BN secure victory.
"BN lost the seat in 2013 due to some unexpected problems but we are better prepared this time. Since Gerakan has started early preparations for GE14, we are confident of securing a win and we know the people's sentiment much better compared to the opposition," he said.
Meanwhile a Bentong Gerakan division spokesman said Syefura's presence in the constituency has got the young voters excited and many were expecting DAP to name a Chinese male candidate, which has been their tradition in the past elections.
"Being a young Malay female candidate representing DAP is not something common during general elections in the past. However, Gerakan hopes the people will vote wisely for the candidate who has been serving the people and not be easily convinced by a new face," he said.
In GE13, Lee won the Ketari seat by a 2,140 majority but he has been moved to contest against Bentong MCA division Youth chief Jason Poo Mun Hoong for the Bilut seat in GE14.
Meanwhile, Syefura who is popularly known as Rara, has dismissed claims that she was a "parachute candidate" saying she was someone who understands the needs and grouses of the constituents.
"I was picked as the Kajang municipal councilor in 2015 and have vast experience in handling the people's complaints especially on matters concerning the local authorities. I was prepared to work anywhere and have been going to the ground in Bentong over the last one year.
"I am focused at serving the people so being labelled as a parachute candidate does not trouble me as I am more concerned with sincerely serving the people. Being a non-Chinese or female contesting in Ketari should not be an issue as what matters most is being an elected representative who can be around for the people," she said.