MAY 9 — I thought the best way to demonstrate my admiration and deep regard for my favourite wakil rakyat Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri is to be present during her re-nomination as the incumbent candidate for P200 Batang Sadong in Sarawak.

The constituency has over 23,300 registered voters covering 1,031 sq km. In contrast, Penang (mainland included) measures 1,048 sq km with an electorate of 950,000. Batang Sadong has three state seats — Sadong Jaya, Simunjan and Gedong.

Nancy was glad I would join her entourage to the nomination centre on April 28. Arrangements were made through her cousin Datuk Anthony Bujang: I would be picked from the airport the night before and driven from Kuching to her constituency the next morning at 5.30am. It was obvious she took care to avoid using government facilities as a caretaker Cabinet member.

The two-hour trip along the countryside would bring me to their regular pit stop — a wooden bungalow supported by high stilts and previously served as a district officer’s residence.

Nancy was already gathered with her team of party volunteers and support staff for a traditional Sarawakian breakfast. There was kuih kosui, tumpik and selimut putih. The main ingredients are Sarawak palm sugar, sago, chopped prawns, and tumpik is fried without oil in a small pan. These delectable dishes are legacies of Bugis, Malay, Chinese, Dayak and other settlers now the basis of the diverse communities.

At 7.55am we left for the party service centre for a final check of her nomination submission. Fifteen minutes into the journey, on a one kilometre stretch, I saw young and old women and men lining both sides of the narrow road fronting the villages. They wore Barisan Nasional (BN) T-shirts and waved BN flags.

At the centre, second term Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo, whom Nancy proudly declared as a most dependable election scrutineer, was going through his 20th check of her nomination papers. Six-term Gedong assemblyman Datuk Naroden Majais was already waiting.

The first-term Simunjan representative Awla Dris dropped by to inform that a close relative — I believe a brother — had passed on. He asked to be excused from the activities.

At 8.35am, we marched towards Simunjan. I was told the crowd behind us had swelled to 1,200 but it might as well have been 12,000 because of the narrow rural road. Nancy led the march with her husband Kamil Misuari, their sons Faeroz and Farouk (daughter Bibi Freka was away in college), Aidel, Naroden, and a group of pemanca and penghulu.

Within 15 minutes, Dewan Mesra Simunjan was within sight. There were three, 2,500 sq ft spaces partitioned for the supporters of the three contesting parties — BN, PH and PAS — outside the hall.

I could only count up to 12 people with five flags at the PH lot, and around 30 with seven flags on the PAS side.

About 10 PAS women in niqab were huddled away from the men and seated on the ground, faces not visible except for a small opening for their eyes. The BN lot that hot morning was packed to the brim and spilled into the adjoining road. The coffee shops were filled with "blue shirts”.

The contenders and their proposers and seconders entered the hall at 9am and wouldn’t reappear until 11.30am.

Nancy’s Batang Sadong family

In GE11 BN (Tan Sri Adenan Satem) secured 91.23 per cent of the votes; GE12 74.79 per cent (Nancy’s maiden foray), and GE13 86.81 per cent. Why did PAS and others bother to compete at all?

This time at least one of the two candidates would lose their RM10,000 deposit when less than one-eighth of the total votes is obtained.

Nancy’s political secretary Kamaluddin Effendi provided the answer: The local PAS leader had told him they were directed to register their "presence” in both parliamentary and state elections notwithstanding the outcome. I can’t imagine PAS candidates receiving any substantive funding because of the absence of publicity materials. Their’s is indeed a remarkable act of unflinching devotion to their cause.

Kamaluddin is proud Team Nancy’s "campaigning” never ceased. They would make their weekend rounds of villages from Friday evenings to Sunday evenings between 30 and 40 times each year. She "delivers” medical care, household essentials and educational assistance personally to her constituents.

Campaign posters vaunting Nancy’s qualities. The writer joined the Batang Sadong incumbent as she submitted her nomination papers on April 28.

Nancy is only absent when her ministerial or parliamentary duties require her to be in the peninsula — or when she is with her family on holidays.

Her service "report card” over the last five years in her constituency and Putrajaya says it all: She didn’t need intense selling as a GE14 candidate.

The last 11 days was like a grand reunion celebration. Nancy sang and did the Poco-Poco with her Batang Sadong family from district to district. They rejoiced because they have the opportunity to renew Nancy’s service for another term.

Sarawak BN, led by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), has shown good governance and exemplary constituency service is the only way to retain the confidence of the people they serve. Their functioning model is like PBB Consolidated (SUPP, PRS and SPDP). All ethnicities are adequately represented and chief minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari has been quoted saying, "All Sarawakians are Bumiputra.”

Nancy is one of 14 PBB candidates. BN Sarawak won 25 of the 31 seats in GE13.

Postscript

Nancy is a remarkable person, sincere and has a tireless capacity to serve. Her exceptional emotional intelligence makes her a natural wakil rakyat. "Kamek milih Nancy” is Sarawak lingo for "We support Nancy.”

Her recording of One Moment In Time is a must listen. The lyrics to the Whitney Houston song represent her deepest thoughts. Do check it out.

* Datuk Lee Yew Meng is CEO of Genovasi d.school

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.