KLANG: The opposition should respect efforts made by PKR candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni to raise local issues in the ongoing Sungai Kandis by-election campaign.
A PKR supporter Mohd Akashah Jupri said Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Lokman Noor Adam’s apparent move to belittle Zawawi’s campaign revealed that the opposition was not paying heed to local needs.
The 57-year-old Akashah was responding to Lokman’s reported comments that issues raised by Zawawi including rubbish collection, clogged drainage and dengue “had long been championed by BN”.
“They (BN) may have an agenda to confuse voters that local interests are not important, save for national issues.
“They are using national issues because their candidate does not know anything about local needs.
“They only go about repeating issues such as the people are not happy with the new political landscape or government, and issues relating to Islam, Malays and the rulers.
“But people are not stupid. They know they are protected under the Federal Constitution,” he said when met today.
Another PKR supporter, Muhammad Ujang Johar, 53, said Lokman should not turn condescending towards Zawawi.
“This is a democratic country. We have the freedom of speech, as long as we do not violate the law, insult others, threatening racial harmony and putting others down.”
Meanwhile, Kinrara state assemblyman Ng Sze Han, who is also Selangor DAP treasurer, said the opposition were lacking in ideas and henceforth turned to national issues.
“This is because the previous assemblyman (the late Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei) had worked hard to assist the locals and that legacy is being continued by Zawawi.”
Polling day has been fixed in Aug 4.