KEMAMAN: Juggling his time between state administrative affairs and responsibilities as a member of parliament will not be an issue should Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar win in the by-election here on Dec 2.
Fondly known as Dr Sam, the Terengganu menteri besar and Perikatan Nasional candidate in the by-election said he foresees a tight schedule if he was elected as an MP because he also has to manage state affairs.
"I believe that is the reality we have to face once I become the Kemaman member of parliament. Looking into state affairs will continue as usual apart from other duties. We have to all accept it.
"I personally think it will not cause any problems (serving as menteri besar and as MP) as the four state seats under the Kemaman parliamentary seat (Air Putih, Kemasik, Kijal, and Chukai) are led by Pas. The capabilities of all four assemblymen will be helpful to assist the MP," he told reporters after his campaign at a shopping complex here.
Yesterday, Terengganu Umno Youth chief Tengku Haphiz Tengku Putera challenged Samsuri to disclose the amount of time and commitment he will provide to attend Dewan Rakyat sittings in the event he is picked as the Kemaman MP.
Tengku Haphiz said the Dewan Rakyat would usually take between one and two months for each session and each MP has to display high commitment to serve the voters' mandate.
Meanwhile, Samsuri said he adopted a cautious approach as there were certain conditions during the campaign and he wanted to be extra careful.
"We are careful during the campaign....not going to places that can be disputed. This is because our opponent, if dissatisfied, will file petitions so that is why I do not go to certain places," he said, referring to Barisan Nasional as the rivals.
Samsuri was replying to a question on why he did not campaign at shops compared to his rivals.
On his ongoing campaign, Ahmad Samsuri said the party's election machinery had begun to meet voters some two weeks before the nomination.
"The machinery has gone to various parts including villages in the constituency to meet the people. They have been working hard. I see this as a concentrated effort with a sole objective (for the party to win)," he said.
The Kemaman parliamentary seat by-election on Dec 2 is a straight fight between Ahmad Samsuri and former Armed Forces Chief General (R) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, who is fielded by BN.
The by-election was called following the decision of the Terengganu Election Court on Sept 26 to annul the victory of Pas candidate Che Alias Hamid in the 15th General Election.