KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 ― Sungai Besar constituents want a leader who champions moderation and understanding among the races here, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi said.
The Sungai Panjang assemblyman, who is in his maiden parliamentary contest, said most residents here were harmonious and rejected those who sought to play up racial and religious friction for support.
“I understand their aspirations. They want a moderate that represents all races. A leader who is not a extremist,” Budiman told reporters after meeting with the Chinese-dominated Sekinchan community last night.
The Sungai Besar Umno deputy chief explained that despite the Malays, Chinese and Indians having different values, they had a mutual understanding in wanting a MP who would raise issues important to each community.
He further said that this was the direction of Malaysian politics, be it in urban or rural areas.
“They just want to live in a moderate and peaceful environment where they have the freedom to practise their respective religions as well as have an improved income.”
The Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections will be held on June 18, and were triggered by the death of the incumbents in a helicopter crash ahead of the Sarawak poll last May.
Based on the Election Commission's (EC) statistics m, the Sungai Besar federal constituency has 42,836 voters comprising of 22,227 Malays votes, about 13,142 Chinese, and only about 820 Indians with 98 from other races.
Sungai Besar constituents are mostly fishermen, farmers and plantation workers.
The parliamentary Sungai Besar by-election in Selangor will see a three-way contest between BN’s Budiman, PAS’s Dr Rani Osman and Amanah’s Azhar Shukur.
