PONTIAN: The former Pulai Sebatang assemblyman’s absence in his constituency was a hot topic at a Chinese New Year dinner function organised by the Pontian MCA here.
Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who attended the event with caretaker Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, quipped that the wrong candidate was elected for Pulai Sebatang (in the 14th General Election) as the former rep from Parti Amanah Negara was not around much.
“We do not know where he went.
“He has been included in the missing person’s list,” he said at the event held at the Fat See Kong Kow Beow temple on Monday (Feb 7) night.
Ahmad was referring to former Pulai Sebatang assemblyman Muhammad Taqiuddin Cheman and his statement was met with laughter from the crowd made up of representatives from 150 non-governmental organisations.
At the end of his speech, Ahmad announced an allocation of RM3,000 each to 16 Chinese primary schools and one Tamil primary school as well as RM10,000 to Pei Chun High School in the district, totaling RM61,000.
Earlier, Pontian MCA division chief Datuk Tee Siew Kiong in his speech also mentioned that Muhammad Taqiuddin was nowhere to be seen after GE14.
“Moreover, he is said to be contesting in another state seat in the upcoming polls.
“I am confident about Pontian MCA’s election machinery and we aim to help Barisan defend the Benut seat, whose former assemblyman is Hasni, and wrestle back the Pulai Sebatang seat,” added Tee, who is the Johor Mentri Besar’s adviser.
Pontian is made up of the Benut and Pulai Sebatang state seats.
Tee was MCA’s Pulai Sebatang candidate in GE14 where be garnered 11,112 votes against Muhammad Taqiuddin’s 14,507 votes.
On Feb 5, Pakatan Harapan announced that Muhammad Taqiuddin was their candidate for the Mahkota seat in Kluang.
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