Rina counting on homeground advantage for Sepang win

 

Going back to her roots could work for Rina Harun. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Being on home turf and the support from PAS are driving Rina Harun’s chances in Sepang, based on sentiments on the ground.

Rina, who won the Titiwangsa seat in the 2018 general election (GE14), was said to have fled the Kuala Lumpur constituency on talk that Barisan Nasional’s Johari Abdul Ghani had gained momentum there.

But those in Sepang told FMT that she was returning to where she belonged.

Ibrahim Mustafa, 60, felt Rina was fortunate that she had the backing of PAS which had teamed up with her party Bersatu under the Perikatan Nasional banner.

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“If she were to rely on Bersatu alone, that party is not strong here,” said the e-hailing driver, adding that PAS had actively campaigned for PN in the leadup to Saturday’s general election.

Another local, Osman Abu Bakar, 68, said he only knew Rina as the minister of women, family and community development but nothing much could be said of her beyond that.

However, he felt Rina could win because the perception of the people of Sepang towards the previous MP Hanipa Maidin of Pakatan Harapan had changed after they hardly saw him in the constituency.

This had eroded the people’s trust in PH, Osman claimed. “I’m sorry to say but if you ask the people here they would agree they hardly met (Hanipa) on the ground.”

In the last election, Hanipa won with a 18,705-vote majority. He isn’t contesting in Saturday’s general election due to poor health and the PH candidate now is the chief of its women’s wing Aiman Athirah Sabu.

Osman said he noticed there was no negative reception for Rina by the people in Sepang despite talk that the PN women chief had abandoned Titiwangsa.

He stressed that Rina could easily win the hearts of Dengkil folk if she could resolve issues such as road congestion, floods and better health facilities.

Small trader Samsuri Abu Samah, 52, said many people were frustrated with PH for failing to fulfil its manifesto.

“If Rina wins, it’s not because she’s better than other candidates but because the people are frustrated with PH,” he said.

Another local Khairul Anwar Samsudin said in the social media era, voters, especially the youths, would find out about her contribution to Titiwangsa.

“If she was good in Titiwangsa, chances are she would perform here. Surely people will ask what she has done there,” he said.

Other than Rina and Aiman, five others are vying for Sepang. They are Anuar Basiran (BN), Che Asmah Ibrahim (Gerakan Tanah Air) and three independent candidates – Daud Leong, Syahrul Amri Mat Sari and M Muneswaran Muthiah. - FMT