Negeri Sembilan Voters Demand Practical Solutions and Approachable Leaders

SEREMBAN, July 23 — As campaigning for the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election enters its sixth day, a distinct expectation has taken shape among the electorate: voters are prioritizing approachable candidates capable of delivering tangible, on-the-ground solutions over party rhetoric or local origins.

According to a survey conducted by Bernama across several constituencies, citizens are urging contesting candidates to look beyond legislative debates and address immediate bread-and-butter issues impacting their daily lives.

For 64-year-old retired teacher Kamarulzaman Ab Aziz, a candidate’s ability to build genuine community connections far outweighs where they originate from.

“We can accept an outsider if he’s likeable, easy to approach, and truly engaged with the community, because that’s what counts. If a local candidate is hard to reach, then being from the area isn’t really an advantage,” Kamarulzaman stated.

Escalating living costs and economic pressures remain front and centre for small business operators and families. Nurulainee Hamidon, a 37-year-old food shop owner from Linggi, Port Dickson, emphasized that the next administration must take decisive action on inflationary pressures affecting both merchants and consumers.

“Rising prices these days are tough on buyers and also hurting small business owners. We are struggling with higher costs just to get our supplies, especially for raw ingredients,” Nurulainee explained.

“As a trader, it’s really hard because our costs keep going up. But when we increase our prices, customers get angry. That’s the kind of problem we have to deal with every day,” she added.

Broader development needs across marginalized communities were highlighted by 38-year-old housewife M. Manisha, who urged the incoming state government to ensure equitable access to infrastructure and opportunities for rural areas, particularly those living in plantation estates.

In the Paroi state constituency, 22-year-old college student Mohammad Najmi Aiman, who will be casting his ballot for the first time, expressed hopes that the governing party would prioritize robust job creation that offers salaries commensurate with tertiary qualifications and skills.

Meanwhile, 43-year-old private sector worker Lim Kian from Port Dickson called for political maturity and civil discourse from party machineries and supporters throughout the remainder of the campaign trail.

“We don’t want to see a culture of tearing others down among any party’s machinery or supporters. Because in the end, whichever party wins will be the one governing the state, so let’s keep the campaign peaceful,” Lim remarked.

Official statistics from the Election Commission (EC) confirm that 889,490 eligible voters are registered for the state election. The voter roll comprises 867,151 ordinary electors, 16,884 military personnel and their spouses, and 5,455 police officers and their spouses.

A total of 103 candidates are competing for the 36 state assembly seats up for grabs. Early voting for security forces is scheduled for July 28, preceding the main polling day on August 1.

-NMT