Mahkota Residents Want Tok Pah's Leadership Style To Continue

KLUANG, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- Residents in the Mahkota state constituency prioritise a candidate who is attentive to the people’s issues, demonstrates strong leadership, and remains approachable at all times, when electing their new representative.

Trader Michael Lee, 58, hopes that the new representative elected in the by-election on Sept 28 will uphold the high leadership standards set by the late Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, whose legacy is considered hard to match.

“Tok Pah (Sharifah Azizah) was an exemplary representative, who truly cared for the people. Identifying major issues in the community is challenging because she was so dedicated to addressing the needs of Mahkota residents,” Lee said when met today.

bootstrap slideshow

“I hope the successor can continue Tok Pah's legacy, making it easier for us to address any concerns that arise,” he added.

Sharifah Azizah, 63, passed away on Aug 2, while receiving treatment at Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital, here.

The upcoming Mahkota state by-election is witnessing a straight fight between Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, and Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, representing Perikatan Nasional (PN).

bootstrap slideshow

Retired army personnel Mangadi Salwi, 75, believes that electing Syed Hussien would ensure the continuity of the previous leadership. He pointed out that Syed Hussien is well-known in the local community, due to his family’s restaurant.

“Many people remember his late father, and before he became active in politics, Syed Hussien was known as a friendly person. From the start, he has been approachable and down-to-earth. This is the kind of leader we need - someone who is readily available to address problems, and dedicated to the community’s well-being,” Salwi remarked.

Housewife Nur Syamimi Salleh, 37, from Taman Ilham, hopes that the elected candidate will tackle the persistent issue of flash floods, in her area and other parts of Kluang, during heavy rains.

“I urge the candidates to consider solutions like expanding drainage systems or building flood retention ponds in frequently flooded areas. Even though the floods may be short-lived, the cleanup afterwards is labour-intensive, and poses safety risks,” she said.

Meanwhile, Arvin Kumar, 25, a private sector employee, hopes that the focus can shift towards expanding the employment sector beyond its current emphasis on manufacturing and industry. He believes that this would provide more opportunities for local youth with degrees in fields outside of these areas.

“If there are more diverse job options available, young people can remain in their field of study, without having to move away in search of suitable employment,” he said.

The Mahkota state seat was first contested in the 11th General Election (GE) in 2004, and was won by Barisan Nasional (BN). BN retained the seat in the 12th and 13th GEs, but lost it to Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 14th GE in 2018.

However, Sharifah Azizah recaptured the seat in 2022 in a four-cornered contest, with a majority of 5,166 votes.

-- BERNAMA