From Umno to DAP: Malacca rep claims victory where father lost

When Malacca DAP deputy chairperson Norhizam Hassan Baktee won the Pengkalan Batu state seat in the 14th general election, he finally achieved what his own father could not back in the 1980s.

His father, Hassan Baktee Mohd, was a DAP member who contested twice for this same seat, previously known as Peringgit, during a time when Malay sentiment against the party was very high.

"I was very proud when I won Pengkalan Batu under DAP's banner.

"I felt very touched by the acceptance from the local community, seeing that the composition of that seat is majority Malay.

"It was expected that the seat will be a tough contest," Norhizam told Malaysiakini in an interview which was held in his new office at Seri Negeri, the administrative centre for the Malacca government.

He was appointed to the state executive council and put in charge of the agriculture and agro-based industry committee after Pakatan Harapan took over the state government.

Even though Norhizam was raised under his father's strong DAP influence, his path in politics was not so clear-cut.

The 52-year-old was actually an Umno member in the Pantai Peringgit branch, even rising to become its deputy Youth chief at one point.

However, Norhizam left Umno in 2006, to follow in his father's footsteps and joined DAP.

"I joined Umno because I was a businessperson, so they (Umno) took advantage and gave me a position.

"After that, they asked me to do all sorts of 'charity' work. So whenever there was a function, I was expected to donate to Umno," he said.

'DAP fights for everyone'

Norhizam said he saw firsthand how the leaders in Umno were "not trustworthy" and "not transparent", which was why he decided to leave and join DAP.

"When I made that decision, my father was very happy.

"He advised me, if you want to play politics, you have to go all in, do not play around. So DAP is a good party for us to join because it fights for everyone, regardless of race," he added.

A former businessperson involved in transportation, Norhizam said being put in charge of the agriculture portfolio is a new experience for him.

But it is a challenge he is excited to take on because it allows him to broaden his horizons, he added.

One of the first tasks in his order of business, Norhizam stressed, would be to review ongoing projects and programmes of the previous administration.

"We will review them and the programmes. Those that we find to be good, we will continue or improve. But there are also those that are problematic, which have failed."

Norhizam said he will also look into improving and upgrading the state’s agricultural infrastructure towards a more innovative technology. - Mkini