Warisan’s Lamag candidate Mazliwati Abd Malek Chua speaking to a resident during her walkabout in PPMS Sri Tanjung.
KINABATANGAN: At a settlement named PPMS Sri Tanjung, Warisan’s Lamag candidate Mazliwati Abdul Malek Chua is taking a more laid-back approach, going door to door and sitting down with villagers to listen and talk about her plans for Lamag.
The settlement is home to 55 families from Kampung Pengkalan Bukit Garam, established after repeated flooding caused by Sungai Kinabatangan.
Then Kuamut assemblyman, the late Datuk Abdul Malek Chua, was instrumental in setting up the settlement.
While public attention has largely centred on Barisan Nasional’s candidate Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar, who is contesting following his father ’s passing, Mazliwati is also campaigning with a personal connection shaped by her late father’s years in public service.
“When people still remember my late father, introductions do become easier,” she said.
“But this struggle is Warisan’s struggle; one that is new, more transparent and more inclusive.”
As she greets the villagers, Mazliwati introduces herself first as Warisan’s candidate, then that she is Abdul Malek’s daughter.
Almost instantly, expressions soften and faces light up.
“Oh, Datuk Malek!” comes the familiar response, often followed by brief recollections of his visits and his role in addressing problems faced by riverine communities.
Abdul Malek served as Kuamut assemblyman from 1976 to 1986, and again from 1999 to 2004. He passed away in 2005.
Mazliwati said one piece of advice from her father continues to guide her approach.
“When he was still alive, I had very little interest in politics. But what he always reminded me was that when you become a leader, you must lead everyone.
“We want to make sure that not a single house is left out,” she said, adding that the approach allows her to hear concerns firsthand and better understand issues faced by villagers.
She said effective representation is not limited by whether a representative sits on the government or opposition bench.
“Even as an opposition representative, a leader who knows how to work with government departments can still help the people,” she said.
This is the second time Mazliwati is contesting. She contested for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat in 2022, where she faced the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
That election was an experience that strengthened her resolve to continue engaging voters at the grassroots level.
Mazliwati said her focus remains on engaging voters directly and presenting what she described as a more inclusive and accountable approach to representation in Lamag.
