Shazani puts her command of Mandarin to good use in Semarang

 

JOHOR POLLS | Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Shazani A Hamid's command of Mandarin has come in handy in her campaigning for the state election.

Shazani, 31, fondly referred to as Cik Nani by local residents, said her use of Mandarin had made it easier for her to understand the needs and issues facing the Chinese community in the Semarang state constituency.

She said some residents were not well-versed with Bahasa Malaysia and her ability to speak Mandarin made her more acceptable to them.

“They find it easier to share issues or their problems," she told Bernama at an "Afternoon Tea” programme with residents of Kampung Parit Sagil in Batu Pahat yesterday.

Shazani, the youngest candidate fielded by PN in the polls, said she learnt Mandarin at the age of five when her parents sent her to Tadika Wimin and later Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Malayan in Ayer Hitam.

Shazani said her experience at school helped her to better understand young people of various races in the constituency.

Shazani A Hamid

"Some of them are my friends and they give me a very warm reception, and I understand their aspirations,” she added.

She said a handful of the Chinese voters there also did not know the voting procedure and it was easy for her to teach them using Mandarin.

Shazani has also made videos in Mandarin for sharing on social media as part of her campaign.

Asked about her vision for Semarang residents, Shazani said she wants to help develop education institutions in Ayer Itam and make the town an important stopover point in Johor.

Semarang is seeing a four-cornered contest involving Shazani, incumbent Samsolbari Jamali of BN, Adzlan Raju of Pejuang and Haryati Abu Nasir of PKR.

- Bernama