MELAKA: From coffee sessions and motorcycle rides to planned futsal tournaments, Farzana Hayani Mohd Nasir is bringing a youthful approach to her campaign to win over voters in Kelebang.
The 26-year-old Pakatan Harapan candidate believes reaching younger voters requires fresh ideas beyond conventional election campaigning.
"As a Gen Z myself, I believe we need to find more interesting ways to attract young voters.
"We are trying to reach them through coffee sessions and youth programmes. We are also planning to organise a futsal programme for young people in Kelebang," she said when met at the Kopilih Harapan programme on Wednesday (Nov 4).
Farzana, better known as Nana, said her campaign had included motorcycle rides through villages, including Kampung Tengah Mengkuang, to meet residents personally.
Having lost her first electoral contest in Sungai Rambai in the 2021 Melaka state election, the Bukit Rambai native said she had continued engaging with communities in Kelebang long before nomination day.
She also rejected suggestions that her youth meant she lacked the experience to serve as an elected representative.
"Experience should not be measured by age alone.
"As long as we have determination, sincerity and a commitment to helping the people, going to the ground and identifying local problems, voters will have confidence in us," she said.
Farzana said her Mandarin proficiency had also helped her connect with Chinese voters, having attended a Chinese primary school in Bukit Rambai before continuing her education at SMJK Tinggi Cina Melaka.
"Even before the election, I was already involved in programmes with the Chinese community, including Chinese New Year celebrations and other festivals.
"When I speak Mandarin, they are very happy and welcoming," she said.
Beyond her campaign approach, Farzana identified longstanding flooding in Seberang Gajah as a pressing concern, claiming the problem had remained unresolved for 20 years.
She pledged to work with the state government and relevant agencies to address the issue if elected.
Farzana also highlighted the challenges facing fishermen, padi farmers, single mothers and women whose households depend solely on their husbands' incomes.
She said Kelebang's tourism attractions, particularly Pantai Kelebang and Dataran Kelebang, offered opportunities to create jobs for local youths through better infrastructure and development.
"We can improve the infrastructure and development to open up more opportunities for local residents," she said.
Farzana faces incumbent Datuk Lim Ban Hong of Barisan Nasional, Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad of Bersatu and Young Jie Yu of Parti Bersama Malaysia in a four-cornered contest on Nov 14.
