Awkward moment as village chief can't recognise new gov't leaders

SEMENYIH POLLS | A Pakatan Harapan function in conjunction with the Semenyih by-election saw an awkward moment when the local Orang Asli village chief could not recognise the new federal government leaders.

In the dialogue session with the Orang Asli community from Kampung Sungai Lalang Baru, its village chief Aleh Abdullah was asked to first deliver a speech.

"Assalamualaikum and good evening to the respected...," the 53-year-old village chief said before trailing off as he looked at the Harapan leaders present.

The awkward silence was broken when the emcee reminded the village chief that he had been provided with a speech text.

"I've given you the speech text, just read it," said the emcee.

Aleh then apologised and reached for his T-shirt pocket where he produced a folded piece of paper.

He then read from the speech text, but struggled with a number of words.

Among the leaders present at the event were Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, Amanah central committee members Hanipa Maidin and Nizar Jamaluddin, and Harapan's Semenyih candidate Muhammad Aiman Zainali.

Aleh, when approached by journalists after the speech, said he did not write it and was only reading it out as instructed.

The village chief said apart from Harapan's visit today, the coalition will also be visiting on Feb 26, while BN will visit on Feb 27.

He claimed that there will be karaoke, hampers and free food on the Feb 26 event.

Semenyih voters will go to the polls on March 2 where they will have to vote from among four candidates.

The candidates are Aiman, BN's Zakaria Hanafi, PSM' Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul and independent candidate Kuan Chee Heng.

The seat fell vacant following the passing of Bersatu incumbent Bakhtiar Mohd Nor. - Mkini