SEREMBAN: Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (Asli) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) will field a candidate each for the Negri Sembilan election, while Muda has opted out.
Fresh from its electoral debut in Johor, Asli will be fielding 40-year old Dayana Dal to contest the Jeram Padang seat.
Dayana, who is from the Semelai tribe and a mother of three, will be up against Barisan Nasional incumbent Datuk Mohd Zaidy Abdul Kadir and Pakatan Harapan’s G. Manivannan.
“Although there are not many Orang Asli voters in the constituency, I believe I will get the support from other voters,” she said after receiving her letter of appointment from Asli president Rashid Ka.
Rashid said Asli’s decision to run for office stems from the widespread challenges facing the community, “most notably the ongoing encroachment on our native customary lands across the country”.
PSM deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan said the party will be fielding 49-year-old S. Tinagaran in Rahang as the party’s objective has always been to uplift the working class.
Tinagaran, who had unsuccessfully vied for the Rembau parliamentary seat in the last general election, hoped to raise issues affecting the common people if elected.
Muda president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz said the party will not contest in the state polls.
“However, we will activate our election machinery and support both the Asli and PSM candidates,” she said.
Parti Bersama Malaysia will also skip the Negri Sembilan polls.
