KUALA LUMPUR: The people of Lembah Pantai have expressed their disappointment with PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar whom they said failed to effect change in the area despite being their elected representative for two whole terms.
Some have even accused her of ‘riding on’ programmes to portray herself as going down to the ground to meet the people.
Kerinchi People’s Housing Project (PPR) residents head, Abdl Hamir Othman, 65, said that that in the 10 years she was the MP, Nurul Izzah did not have any impactful programmes for the locals.
Abdl Hamir claimed Nurul Izzah only went down to the ground on the eve of elections to campaign.
“For as long as I have lived here, I did not see her do anything for the people, despite it being her duty to conduct thorough programmes to get closer to the people.
“Her tactic appears to be to ride on other people’s programmes, where she attends and poses for photos,” he claimed.
Abdl Hamir said Lembah Pantai is a ‘cauldron of emotion’ and hoped that irresponsible quarters would not try to provoke any negative sentiments.
“In GE14, Lembah Pantai will see a three-cornered fight so I hope no one will provoke any camps as people are emotional enough as it is.
“I am however confident that (Barisan Nasional candidate and Lembah Pantai Umno chief) Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin has a good opportunity this time around as the people know him as being courteous and hardworking. Even though he lost in GE13, he continued working hard over the next five years to look after the welfare of the people,” he said.
In GE14, Lembah Pantai will see a three-cornered fight between BN, who are fielding Nong Chik, PKR’s Fahmi Fadzil and PAS’ Fauzi Abu Bakar.
Nurul Izzah, the seat incumbent, will not be defending the seat and will be contesting in Permatang Pauh.
Meanwhile, fellow Kerinchi resident, Roslina Ramli, said the opposition are usually adept at formulating last-minute tactics but their candidate this time around is unknown to the locals.
“For 10 years, we watched Nurul Izzah ‘goyang kaki’, so what sort of confidence will we have in this new, untested candidate?
“This area now has a strong BN support, and we trust Raja Nong Chik because he tirelessly works to help us,” she said.
Maznah Yunus, 60, a Pantai Dalam resident, believed that Nurul Izzah was disappointed at the lack of support for her, and thus decided to contest elsewhere in GE14.
“She appears to be disappointed. But the people are more comfortable with Raja Nong Chik; we do not want a ‘touch and go’ representative.”