Pengkalan Chepa to see second indie candidate contesting since 1974

PAS' stronghold Pengkalan Chepa will see an independent candidate challenging the candidate from the Islamic party in the forthcoming general election (GE15).

Fondly known as 'Abe Wae', Pertubuhan Kebajikan Khidmat Rakyat president Mohamad Redzuan Razali (above) said he would like to provide an alternative to the voters in Pengkalan Chepa.

This is the second independent candidate to appear in the parliamentary seat since the 1974 polls, the same year the seat was created. The first candidate was Umar Ibrahim.

Redzuan said he felt the call to stand as an independent candidate to represent a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to provide services to the community in the area.

"I want to provide an alternative to the voters in Pengkalan Chepa as there was a request from the locals.

"So, we are aware that some of our voters now want a new choice where the candidate is not from a political party," he told a press conference following an announcement ceremony in Kota Bharu yesterday.

The ceremony was attended by some 100 supporters of various ages.

For the record, Pengkalan Chepa is among the PAS stronghold in Kelantan which never fell to another party in the past 48 years.

‘I may have a chance’

Redzuan said he was motivated by the welfare and community service work carried out together with the NGO.

Apart from this, he said he found many cases of residents being neglected and not receiving any aid from the authorities.

"We want to create an assistance system for the targeted group so no one will be left out or overlooked.

"Pengkalan Chepa, which is close to the city, needs appropriate development that is people-centric in terms of infrastructure and facilities," added Redzuan.

The Pengkalan Chepa native said he was aware that he faced opposing candidates of strong political parties, but at least he tried his best.

"If you look at these parties, BN and PN have big names because they have been established for a long time. They have stronger machinery compared to me as well."

"But, if you look at personality, I feel that I stand a chance because I always go to the ground for the needy," he said.

In the 1974 polls, late PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was challenged by Umar in a straight fight with the latter managing to secure only 4,682 votes or 26 percent out of 19,278 votes cast.

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