KLANG: Barisan Nasional women’s wing has put forth its strongest line up of candidates to contest in the 14th General Election.
BN Wanita chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the 85 women candidates given the responsibility to win in their respective parliamentary and state seats were serious leaders with the key goal to serve the public.
“BN looked at the experience and calibre of the candidates before selecting them. Unlike the other side (opposition party), they are not those who fly-by-night or touch-and-go candidates.
“Our women candidates are serious leaders who aspire to serve the rakyat. A member of parliament and assemblyman should be someone who always ‘turun padang’ (goes to the ground) to meet the people and understand their issues.
“If we choose those who mere touch-and-go (occasionally visits his or her constituency), the voters and residents are the ones who will suffer in the end.
“Hence, today, I am asking the people to choose your representatives wisely. Give BN a chance and if BN has been given the mandate to lead, the people will see positive changes and developments in their area,” she said after visiting a stroke patient during the Ziarah Sayang DUN Meru today.
On Kapar BN candidate Datuk Mohana Muniandy Raman’s chances of winning, Shahrizat said BN women candidates had been groomed since young and were exposed to various situations that had made them a better leader, capable at contesting against any candidates.
She further said Mohana, who is also Wanita MIC chief is the best candidate to contest in Kapar, a constituency with about 124,000 voters.
“She is a young candidate with huge potential and she is not one of those who you will only see during the election season. She had been involved in various community and women development programmes.
“Not anyone can stand in Kapar. It is one of the biggest parliament constituencies. But Mohana has the attitude and work ethics to work here.”
On negative remarks made against women candidates on social media, Shahrizat, who is also the former minister of Women, Family and Community Development said netizens and members of the public should refrain from making unnecessary remarks.
She also said candidates should focus on campaigning for GE14 and on their responsibilities instead on those who do not have respect for women.
“Women candidates have through the years in Malaysia, proven to be really good representatives of the people. They have performed their duties well with honesty and integrity.
“They are very hardworking , disciplined and I would like to remind everybody to stop this kind of uncalled for remarks because women candidates especially those from BN are serious leaders. We are here to serve the people and the nation.”
Shahrizat and Mohana later visited the BN’s operations room at Sungai Serdang in Sementa for a meet and greet session with party and election machinery members.
After giving a short speech, Shahrizat signed the wall “Kapar Hebat! Insyallah menang besar!”, while Mohana signed “Kasih Kapar, Rakyat Senang.” Sementa BN candidate Datuk Saroni Judi signed “DSJ 4 Sementa. Sementa di hati.”
GE14 sees an increase of 11.7 per cent of BN wanita candidates contesting. Of that, eight candidates are contesting in Selangor (one in the Kapar parliament seat and seven in state seats).
Mohana, 42, will face Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (PKR), former Selangor PAS Commissioner and Meru assemblyman Dr Abdul Rani Osman (PAS), and former Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam (Parti Rakyat Malaysia - PRM).