Dr Yadzil seeks bigger victory in Bemban

Perikatan Nasional (PN) is targeting a bigger victory in the Bemban state constituency in the Nov 14 Melaka election, with its candidate Dr Yadzil Yaakub choosing not to attack or disparage his rivals.

The incumbent said he preferred to highlight his own strengths and what he could offer voters, while respecting the capabilities of his rival candidates for the seat.

“I prefer to contest in a healthy manner, highlighting one’s strengths and what I can offer the people,” the Jasin Wawasan chief told FMT in an interview at the Bemban PN operations room.

Yadzil will face Rabaie Ab Hamid of Bersatu, Dr Solehin Saleh of Bersama and independent candidate Abd Halim Said.

In the 2021 Melaka state election, Yadzil won the seat with a majority of 328 votes, when he contested under the PN banner, but he was with Bersatu at the time.

The former Melaka opposition leader said PN wanted to increase the number of seats it won compared with the previous election, although its actual target would depend on how the campaign unfolded.

He also acknowledged that PN needed to step up efforts to reach out to voters of various ethnic backgrounds, particularly the Chinese community, through face-to-face engagements and by listening to their aspirations.

He said PN was setting up several groups to engage with the community and gather feedback on its expectations of the coalition.

“We cannot rely solely on social media as different communities have their own ways of obtaining information,” he said.

On local issues, Yadzil said the development of Malay settlements in urban and suburban areas needed greater attention to ensure residents were not burdened.

He also highlighted recurring problems involving floods and poor sanitation, which he said required comprehensive solutions.