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 from the rest – he is 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, 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 can be used to leverage myself against my competitors.
“I have a clear understanding of what the people are facing most,” he said in an interview.
He said he is unfazed by the uphill challenge ahead of him.
Zamri was fielded by Perikatan Nasional for the Linggi seat in the 2023 polls and lost by 1,461 votes.
On Bersatu’s decision to go solo while Perikatan and Barisan have an electoral understanding, Zamri acknowledged that this would impact where the votes would go.
“But this is no reason to give up.
“We are determined to achieve victory.”
On his campaign efforts so far, he said he and his team have reached approximately 70% of voters within the constituency.
Zamri said among the issues most raised by residents during his walkabouts were floods and inconsistent water supply.
“Infrastructure development also does not match the pace of economic and technological advancements.”
Other than Zamri, the three-cornered contest in Linggi features state Pakatan chairman and caretaker Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, and Barisan incumbent Datuk Mohd Faizal Ramli.
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 at 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).
