Nong Chik admits it: I told Najib many times I want Lembah Pantai

Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin has confirmed speculation that he was eyeing the Lembah Pantai seat which until 2008 had been contested and won by embattled Wanita UMNO chief Shahrizal Abdul Jalil.

Raja Nong Chik said he had “told Najib many times” that he wanted the Lembah Pantai seat, won by giant killer Nurul Izzah Anwar in the 2008 general elections.

Raja Nong Chik said he has been living in the constituency and servicing the people there for 25 years.

“I have many experience in solving a variety of problems and issues for the locals, unlike other politicians who are active only when election is near.

"It’s time for me to serve as their representative and really do some work for Lembah Pantai,” he told Malay daily Sinar Harian, though he did not name the "politicians" he referred to.

Lembah Pantai was once considered a stronghold of Shahrizat, who had held on to the seat for three terms since 1995.

Raja Nong Chik however said he would give way if Najib had a better candidate. The 59 year-old senator has been campaigning hard in Lembah Pantai by dishing out gifts and financial contributions for constituents.

Recently, he presented Muslim prayer mats to a mosque, complete with his name and his position as the Lembah Pantai UMNO chairman stitched on them.

Blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin had earlier claimed that Raja Nong Chik’s supporters had sabotaged Shahrizat in 2008 by voting for Nurul following UMNO’s rejection of his candidacy for Lembah Pantai.

-Harakahdaily