Day 2: 'Make history, elect first Orang Asli rep from the peninsula'

CAMERONS POLLS DAY 2 | With the nomination period over and a total of four candidates announced for the Cameron Highlands by-election, contenders are now kicking into gear and hitting the campaign trail.

Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the campaigning on the ground.  

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KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Pahang MB urged to extend farmers' land leases
• 'Make history, elect first Orang Asli rep from the peninsula'
• 'Triggered by the death of integrity'

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Pahang MB urged to extend farmers' land leases

10am: Tanah Rata - At a press conference, Deputy Agricultural and Agro-based Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin urges Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail to grant local farmers 30-year land leases.

The agricultural sector will not develop if land issues in Cameron Highlands are not resolved, he says.

Sim tells reporters that the future of Cameron Highlands depends on three main sectors – modern agriculture, agrotourism and agro-based industries. 

He also suggests that Cameron Highlands' famous strawberries take the place of potato chips. 

"Fresh strawberries spoil in a few days. If these can be processed into dried strawberries, they can replace potato chips.

"Don't people want to take care of their bodies these days? It can also be slimming for women," he quips.

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'Make history, elect first Orang Asli rep from the peninsula'

9am: Tanah Rata - BN candidate Ramli Mohd Nor is making his rounds meeting and greeting voters at a row of food shops close to the main road in Tanah Rata.

Speaking to reporters after, he stresses that Peninsular Malaysia has never had an elected Orang Asli representative in Parliament, and urged voters to change this.

"Let Malaysia make history (and have) a representative of the rakyat, elected by the rakyat, to speak up for the rakyat in Parliament," he says, adding that he will speak up for Orang Asli issues if elected.

He also points out that senators representing Orang Asli issues in the Dewan Negara are all appointed and not elected.

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'Triggered by the death of integrity'

12am: Felda Sungai Koyan 3 - To Dusun Tua assemblyperson Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof, this by-election differs slightly from the four held since the general election last year.

Whereas the previous by-elections were triggered by the deaths of their incumbents, Edry says, the coming polls are being held due to the "death of integrity."

"Before, the by-election was held because they (the incumbents) died, but this time it's because integrity has died. 

"The scales (BN logo) are unstable – tipping to the left and right. We see a lot of their lawmakers quitting and becoming independents. 

"So why choose instability and an unclear direction?" he asks during an introduction session with Pakatan Harapan candidate M Manogaran. - Mkini