Melaka polls: BN targets 15,000 flags in Tangga Batu as campaign gathers pace

MELAKA: The BN election machinery in Tangga Batu is preparing to put up 15,000 flags, although the campaign's traditional flag war has yet to gather pace.

The flag installation exercise, led by the BN Youth machinery, covers four state constituencies: Sungai Udang, Klebang, Pantai Kundor and Paya Rumput.

Tangga Batu BN chairman Datuk Rais Yasin said the relatively quiet campaign, including the absence of large-scale flag displays, did not mean the party's machinery was inactive.

He said campaign materials would be put up more extensively after the nomination process, with activity expected to pick up over the following two to three days.

"Many people have been asking why there is no flag war in Melaka yet, but that is how things are here.

"We have nothing to fight over. As the chief minister, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, has said, we practise healthy politics without malice or incitement," he said.

He was speaking after launching the flag installation exercise by the Tangga Batu BN Youth machinery at the Tangga Batu BN operations centre in Sungai Udang last night.

Also present were Klebang BN candidate Datuk Lim Ban Hong and Pantai Kundor BN candidate Datuk Tuminah Kadi.

Rais, who is also the BN candidate for Sungai Udang, said youth participation was a key strength in driving the campaign, particularly in ensuring that party workers remained active in engaging voters at the grassroots level.

He said the party's campaign activities were also being coordinated with Friends of BN to ensure smooth preparations for the Melaka election.

The focus also included reaching out to the community and taking note of residents' complaints.

"We are reaching out to as many people as possible and taking note of the complaints raised by residents.

"If we are given the opportunity and mandate, we will ensure that these issues receive attention and are resolved," he said.

In another development, Rais said cooperation between BN and Pas campaign machinery in Tangga Batu was also going well.

This included assisting Tangga Batu Pas deputy division chief Rafie Ahmad, who is contesting the Paya Rumput state seat.

He said this was evident on nomination day, when Pas vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad and several other party representatives accompanied him.

Similar support was also extended in other constituencies where BN candidates were contesting.

"We complement one another in mobilising the campaign machinery across the constituencies," he said.