SERI SETIA POLLS | Pakatan Harapan's candidate for the Seri Setia by-election Halimey Abu Bakar could not hold back tears when commenting on the criticism from his rival.
"Yes, it is true, I am a local boy. I am an anak setinggan (from the squatters) and I am used to having a hard life.
"I admit I am the son of a petty trader who traded at the pasar malam and earned just RM20 a night for his family," he said when asked to respond to PAS candidate Halimah Ali’s comment on him during a press conference in Kelana Jaya today.
Pausing to cover his face with his hands and wipe the tears, Halimey struggled to compose himself.
"Let her say what she wants, I know how difficult life is in the squatters.
"Therefore, now is the time for me to give back to the people from my own area".
Yesterday, Halimah was reported to have said that Seri Setia was a developed area with intelligent voters and Halimey's “local boy” argument was an “outdated mentality”.
Speaking to Malaysiakini later, Halimey, 46, explained that he became emotional because he was reminded of his difficult past.
"I was reminded of how I grew up in the squatters, how hard it was.
"My parents would sometimes only be able to feed us twice a day, not three times. That's why I felt slighted. Do not insult local boys," he added.
No time for a debate
During the press conference, Halimey had explained that he had rejected requests for a debate with his opponent because he had not been formally invited and the debates were not organised by neutral parties.
“I ask that people stop all sorts of accusations against me that I am a coward and a pondan (effeminate man).
“Till today, there has been no official letter (inviting for a debate) and the NGO that invited me (verbally) is not even registered with the Registrar of Societies.
“We need to first make sure that the organisers are not PAS members,” he said.
With polling day just two days away, Halimey said time had run out for a debate.
Earlier, he said that if elected, he would convert empty areas in Seri Setia into spaces for sport and recreational activities. He also vowed to set up a football academy there.
The Sept 8 by-election follows the death of incumbent Shaharuddin Badaruddin on Aug 2.
In GE14, the late Shaharuddin won the seat with a 19,372 majority in a four-cornered fight against BN's Yusoff M Haniff, Mohd Ghazali Daud from PAS and independent candidate S Vigneswaran. -Mkini
Rakyat preferred local boy then penungang agama,penyanggak,
ReplyDeletepenyamun,pencuri dan penyokong kesemua yg salah itu. Saya berharap pengundi Seri Setia dan Balakong mengikut pemikiran pengundi Sg Kandis dengan menjadikan calon umngok Lokman MP Jalanan bukan MP di Dewan Rakyat atau Dewan Negeri.