Barisan Nasional candidate for Tambun parliamentary seat Datuk Aminuddin march in unity at the nomination centre.
IPOH: Candidates for the Tambun parliamentary seat are set to go all out to win the hearts of the people in the land of majestic limestone hills.
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) prime minister candidate, said that while he had some confidence, Pakatan needed to work hard as well.
"For me, it is new terrain, but for someone like Asmuni (Asmuni Awi, the candidate for the Manjoi state seat), he has been serving for years.
"I am not taking any chances, and I will be here for some time," he told reporters after the names of the candidates were announced at the Ipoh Industrial Training Institute.
When asked how he saw himself as he is labelled as an outsider, Anwar said,
"I am a Malaysian, a Perakian for nine years (Anwar studied in Perak and was in ISA detention).
"We come in with confidence to wrest the parliamentary seat, as well as to win both the state seats of Manjoi and Hulu Kinta once again.
"People in Tambun are friendly, supportive, and are prepared to listen. We are giving them the opportunity to listen to other alternatives, unlike Perikatan or Barisan," he said.
Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who is the incumbent, was confident that the people would be more comfortable seeking services from someone they knew instead of an outsider.
"The local leader is known, the outsider is also known (referring to Anwar), but it is more about how they relate to someone they are comfortable with.
"An important part of my campaign is to ensure the new voters, the Undi18, must come all out to cast their votes," he said.
Abdul Rahim Tahir, who is contesting for Pejuang under the Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA), said he is a Perakian who had been residing in Tambun for the past 17 years.
The 37-year-old businessman said his focus would be on the Undi18 group to ensure that they come out in full force to vote.
"I realise the younger generation is no longer interested in politics, and that mindsets need to change.
"If you don’t like politics, that is more reason for you to cast your vote to make changes. To make right what is wrong.
"Thus, I want to change the perception of the youngsters," he added.
However, Datuk Aminuddin Md Hanafiah from Barisan Nasional left almost immediately after the announcement of the candidates, and the media did not get a chance to speak to him.
The Tambun parliamentary seat, deemed a hot seat in the 15th General Election (GE15), will see a four-cornered fight.
The two state seats under the constituency - Manjoi and Hulu Kinta - will see three-cornered and four-cornered fights, respectively.
In Manjoi, incumbent and Perak Amanah chairman Datuk Asmuni Awi, Datuk Azizul Kama Abd Aziz from Umno and Hafez Sabri from PAS will contest.
The Hulu Kinta seat will see PKR’s incumbent Muhamad Arafat Varisai Mahamad facing Datuk Mazlan Abd Rahman from Umno, Puteri Holijah Muhamad Rali from Bersatu, and independent candidate S. Murugiah, 57, a contractor.
