The Chinese community in the Permatang Pasir state constituency want an assemblyperson who is more caring and can resolve their problems which they have faced for the last three terms.

Many problems they faced during that time, they said, were not addressed properly by PAS.

Observations at Kampung Cross Street, which has a Chinese-majority make-up, found that many residents complained of infrastructure not being maintained well and causing them problems, like potholes, clogged drains and flooding.

permatang pasir by election 180809 rohaizat othman visit chinese community.jpg Resident Lim Jun, 24, alleged that residents had to solve their problems by themselves and they were lucky there were Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders who were willing to help even if it was not their constituency.

"We fill in potholes and clean out drains ourselves to prevent flooding. Many of the Chinese here are vegetable farmers and flooding destroys our produce and our livelihood is affected," he said.

Another resident hoped the new assemblyperson can channel more funding for vegetable growers there.

The Aug 25 by-election will see a straight fight between the Permatang Pauh Umno division secretary Rohaizat Othman, 38, and Penang PAS commissioner Mohd Salleh Man, 52.

The by-election is being held following the death of Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman of Pas on July 31 due to a heart attack.

Women voters and DAP puppet

Meanwhile, Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that the women voters in Permatang Pasir did not want to support a party that was a puppet of the DAP.

NONE Shahrizat, who is also minister of women, family and community development, said based on Wanita Umno's observation, the women in the area were of the view that if they voted for the PAS candidate, it meant they were voting for the DAP.

"PAS leaders are being used as DAP's puppets," she told reporters after officiating the Tanah Liat Rehabilitation in the Community Centre last night.

She said she had feedback that voters were tired of being the victims of opposition politics.

Shahrizat said so far women's support for the BN was good.

"I believe they will vote for the BN. Before they gave a chance to the DAP, PAS and PKR. They now say that if they vote for PAS the one to benefit is the DAP," she said.

She said Permatang Pasir voters needed to be mature in making a choice as the state government also depended on the federal government for aid.

- Bernama