PADANG SERAI: Barisan Nasional candidate for the Padang Serai parliamentary election Datuk C. Sivaraj vows to represent the young voters' voice and aspiration in shaping the nation's policy.
Sivaraj said based on his engagements with the group, they wanted their voice to be heard in formulating government decisions and policies.
"They wish for the government to pay attention to their voice in making decisions and policies. They want their voice to be heard in matters concerning the future they will live in.
"They are not asking for hand-outs and so on. We are listening to them and we will carry their voice," Sivaraj said when met during his campaign trail at Form Six College in Taman Mahsuri here yesterday evening.
Thus, Sivaraj urged first-time voters and young voters in Padang Serai to make the right choice so that their voice could be heard in the government.
"They need to do some study and research before making up their minds, not just rely on social media and emotions.
"Their vote is very important as the choice they make today will shape their future in the next 10 years," he said.
In addition to face-to-face campaigns, Sivaraja said he was also reaching out to first-time voters and young voters through phone calls and social media.
"We are encouraging young voters, including out-of-station voters, to return to exercise their democratic rights.
"Their choice of ideology in the voting process will have a great impact on their future and the future of our country," he said.
Sivaraj is facing a six-cornered contest in the Padang Serai parliamentary election.
He will be locking horns against Datuk Azman Nasrudin (Perikatan Nasional); Hamzah Abdul Rahman(Pejuang); Mohd Bakri Hashim (Warisan), and Dr Mohamad Sofee Razak (Pakatan Harapan) and Independent candidate Sreadnandha Rao.
The Padang Serai parliamentary seat was previously held by PH's M. Karupaiya when he secured a 8,813 vote-majority win, beating MCA candidate Datuk Dr Leong Yong Kong and Mohammad Sobri Osman from Pas in the previous general election.
Karupaiya, 69, was nominated again by PH on Nov 5 to defend the seat. However, he died on Nov 16, two days after being admitted to Kulim Hospital due to a heart attack while campaigning.
Following his death, the Election Commission had decided to postpone the Padang Serai polls to Dec 7.
Padang Serai has 133,767 eligible voters, with 81,230 of the voters in Lunas state constituency while the remaining 52,546 voters in Merbau Pulas constituency.