Don’t lose Kepala Batas, Pak Lah warns replacement

Abdullah (left) speaks to Air Itam candidate Loo Jieh Sheng during the announcement event April 16, 2013. — Picture by KE OoiKEPALA BATAS, April 17 — Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants Umno Youth information chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who has been picked as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to defend the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat, to ensure that the suburban constituency continues to remain as the BN’s stronghold seat.

Abdullah, who has been the Kepala Batas member of parliament for seven terms since 1979, is bowing out in favour of Reezal Merican in this election, Abdullah was confident that given the close cooperation and hardwork by the leaders and the support of local residents, Kepala Batas would steadfastly remain in the BN’s hands.

“The constituents only want a local resident to be the elected representative for Kepala Batas instead of allowing an outsider to enter the area.

“It must be remembered that the candidates for Kepala Batas and the three state seats must be a local from Kepala Batas and not outsiders.

“The local residents here only want Kepala Batas-born people to their elected representative.

“The Opposition is dreaming about many things. All of us have worked hard and the BN has done a lot to develop Kepala Batas to the state at its level today.

“And all of a sudden, we hear the opposition wants to take over Kepala Batas just like that,” he told reporters when asked on the Pakatan Rakyat’s plan to wrest Kepala Batas from BN in the May 5 general election.

Earlier, Abdullah, who retained Kepala Batas by garnering 23,445 votes against PAS’ Subri Md Arshad’s 12,199 votes in the 2008 general election, introduced candidates who will be fielded in Kepala Batas and three state seats — Penaga, Bertam and Pinang Tunggal.

Apart from Reezal, the BN is introducing two new faces — Mohd Zain Ahmad for Penaga and Shariful Azhar Othaman for Bertam — while the incumbent assemblyman for Pinang Tunggal Datuk Roslan Saidin has been retained.

Abdullah said the successor candidates must pursue the development agenda in their respective areas in tandem with the cherished mission to transform Malaysia into a developed nation.

“The new leaders must continue the development programmes for Kepala Batas as wanted by the constituents there. Be determined to serve the people amd be ready to serve.

“Close co-operation and hard work are essential attributes to defend Kepala Batas as Umno’s and BN’s bastion. Don’t allow Kepala Batas to fall into Opposition’s hands,” he added. — Bernama