PORT DICKSON: The Linggi contest may be billed as a showdown between the caretaker Mentri Besar from Pakatan Harapan and a Barisan Nasional incumbent, but Bersatu's Datuk Zamri Md Said believes one thing sets him apart – being a local boy.
As he prepares to take on Pakatan’s Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Barisan’s Datuk Mohd Faizal Ramli in a three-cornered fight in the Negri Sembilan state election on Saturday (Aug 1), Zamri said his local roots have given him a deeper understanding of the constituency's needs.
"I am a local. I know the heartbeat of the residents here and that could be used... against my opponents.
"I have a clear understanding of what the people are facing most," he said in an interview on Monday (July 27).
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Zamri, who was also fielded by Perikatan Nasional for the Linggi seat in the 2023 polls and lost by 1,461 votes, appeared unfazed by the uphill challenge facing him.
On Bersatu’s decision to go solo while Perikatan and Barisan have an electoral understanding, Zamri acknowledged that this would impact where the votes go.
"But this is no reason to give up. We are determined to win," he said.
On campaign efforts so far, he said the party machinery has reached about 70% of voters in the constituency.
However, the unpredictable weather has seen the team having to adjust its schedule at times.
"In rainy weather, it’s difficult to move around, so we make do with what we have," he said.
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According to Zamri, among the issues most frequently raised by residents during his walkabouts were flooding and consistent water supply.
"Infrastructure development here also does not match the pace of economic and technological advancements," he said.
Linggi is known as a Barisan stronghold, with the coalition holding the seat since 1974.
There are 20,677 eligible voters here, with the 30-39 age group making up the highest number (4,919).
Those aged 40-49 make up the second largest group at 4,329, followed by 21-29 (3,557), 50-59 (2,826), 60-69 (2,279), 70-79 (1,401), 18-20 (852), 80-99 (399) and those aged 90 and above (115).
