State polls: We must work hard even though having the upper hand in Juasseh, says Kuala Pilah MP

KUALA PILAH: Work still has to go on for the Juasseh state seat although previous election results showed Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan having the upper hand, says Kuala Pilah MP Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan.

“Mathematically speaking, if we look at the number of voters that chose either Barisan or Pakatan during the previous Negri Sembilan state polls, we stand a chance.

“But… that’s just on paper. We still have to work very hard,” he told The Star while accompanying Barisan’s Juasseh candidate Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid during house visits here on Friday (July 28).

In the 2018 General Election, Barisan’s Datuk Ismail Lasim won the Juasseh seat in a three-cornered fight with a majority of 692 votes against Pakatan’s Rosli Omar and PAS candidate Hassan Mohamed.

Ismail secured 4,146 votes followed by Rosli with 3,454 and Hassan with 624.

Separately, Adnan was unfazed at the prospect of Perikatan Nasional fielding former deputy minister Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith to take on Bibi Sharliza.

“It’s normal. For anyone they (Perikatan) field, we take it as a challenge.

“We should picture ourselves as the underdog so we have the will to win,” he said.

“We have studied their strengths but at the same time, we must focus on our candidate and that is exactly what she (Bibi Sharliza) is doing by going to the ground and reaching out to people,” he added.

On contesting against Eddin Syazlee, Bibi Sharliza said she was up for the challenge.

“I am confident. I have to work hard. Every candidate has to. It’s not just the person who goes up against a deputy minister who has to work hard,” she said.

She added that her track record as the Paroi assemblyman from 2004 to 2008 would help spur confidence in the voters.

“People here know me and my record. I will continue that same fight for Juasseh,” she said.

The Negri Sembilan Wanita Umno chief said new leaders like herself had to take up the challenge to instil the public’s confidence in Umno.

“If I didn’t take up this challenge, even as an Umno leader, then I shouldn’t be in the party.

“We all have to do this together, and spur the public’s confidence,” she added.