Khaled: You help Normala, I'll help you ...
JOHOR The BN's Permas state seat candidate Khaled Nordin has smilingly told a small group of women voters that their land and housing woes will not be resolved if even one vote goes to Pakatan Rakyat in a Malay village in the Pasir Gudang parliamentary seat.
JOHOR The BN's Permas state seat candidate Khaled Nordin has smilingly told a small group of women voters that their land and housing woes will not be resolved if even one vote goes to Pakatan Rakyat in a Malay village in the Pasir Gudang parliamentary seat.
Khaled issued his 'gentle warning' yesterday to some 20 Malay voters, most of them homemakers, at a cooking class organised by the Community Development Department in Kampung Melayu Pandan, Johor Bahru.
He was asking them to support Normala Abdul Samad, the novice who is contesting the Pasir Gudang seat which Khaled had held for two terms since 2004. He has been moved to Permas , a state seat under Pasir Gudang for the 13th general election on May 5.
“I understand the various problems and issues faced by the residents of Kampung Melayu Pandan. Among these is the ownership of houses and lands. And we also know that before this general election, the state government had made several commitments to solve your problems.
“Because I'm now contesting at the state level ... I will make sure they are implemented. I can help you with the condition, with the condition, with the condition, that you help my candidate (Normala),” he said, flashing a big smile.
“If this can be done, then the first thing, which we cannot avoid, is to solve your problems. On polling day, we will open the ballot box of Kampung Melayu Pandan, I want to see that not even one vote has gone to other people.
“Every vote for BN will be a sign that you all agree with the solution we’ve offered. If there are other votes, it means you don't agree with the solution. If you don't agree, then we cannot implement,” he continued with a big grin.
“So after finish baking the cakes, offer these to other villagers and send them my regards. Tell all the villagers, we want 100 percent of Kampung Melayu Pandan to go to BN.”
The women seemed to have no issue with Khaled's words, responding with several rounds of applause.
‘Numbers not reflective of support’
Met by KiniTV later, Khaled said he was at the village to show his commitment to resolving the residents' application for land.
“We have solved many land issues in Pasir Gudang, so there are no such problem any more.”
Land and housing issues are among key issues for urban settlers in the Johor Bahru area, aggravated by the recent property boom as a result of the rapid development of Iskandar Malaysia.
In January, the Umno grassroots had closed several operation centres in Pasir Gudang to
protest
against incumbent Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman
(right)
for allegedly reneging on his promise to grant land titles to squatters.
Khaled, who is seen as the candidate to become the next menteri besar if BN wins Johor, later stepped in to solve the problem .
Asked about the large Chinese crowds seen at Pakatan Rakyat rallies over the past two weeks, Khaled said these do not necessary reflect real support.
“We are not saying that we have full complete support, especially from the Chinese, but sometimes it may happen in certain areas. You cannot judge support from the number of people who attend a ceramah,” he said.
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