Monday May 13, 2013
Independent candidates say they have no plans to join any party
By ZAZALI MUSA
zaza@thestar.com.my
Going solo: Like Mohd Azman, Surendiran said he had no intentions of joining a party as it would limit his potential. JOHOR BARU: Independent candidates who lost in the GE13 are committed to serve their local communities as they firmly believe that they could be the “voice of the rakyat”.
This is the first time Johor has had eight independents contesting in a general election.
However all of them lost their deposits.
Mohd Azaman Johari, 46, who was defeated by Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said for the Pengerang parliamentary seat, plans to establish a non-government organisation (NGO) in the constituency.
He said the proposed NGO would act as a watchdog for developments which would take place in Pengerang to transform the area into a new an oil and gas hub (O&G) in the region.
“I am not against progress and development but they must be done holistically and not sideline the masses in the process,” Mohd Azaman told StarMetro.
The former school teacher of 22 years garnered 795 votes in the three-cornered fight, while another candidate Tengku Intan Tengku Abdul Hamid of PKR received 4,488 votes.
He said the NGO would assist the locals affected by the multi-billion ringgit O&G hub in the area including those whose lands were acquired for the project.
Mohd Azaman added that the NGO would not take side by supporting either Barisan or Pakatan Rakyat but would educate Pengerang people on their rights as Malaysians.
“I have no plans to join any political parties as what I see today, certain parties have produced extremists and fail in championing the people,” he added.
Apart from setting up the NGO, Mohd Azman would also venture into the food-related business this year by setting up a company involving in producing frozen food products and offering catering services.
Another independent candidate Surendiran Kuppayah, 42, also concurred with Mohd Azaman and has no intentions to join any political parties.
The businessman said by joining a political party, his hands would be tied and he would have to abide by its rules and regulations.
“As an independent, I would have freedom to do my duties as I am not answerable to the party’s leadership,” said Surendiran who contested in the Kulai parliamentary.
He received 238 votes and lost to Teo Niew Ching from DAP who garnered 43,338 votes, while Tay Chin Hein of Barisan received 29,888 votes.
Surendiran also contested in the Bukit Batu state seat where he received 177 votes, the seat was won by PKR’s Jimmy Phuan Wee Tse with 11,676 votes and Barisan’s Cheong Chin Liang scored 7,661 votes.
Despite getting only 238 votes, Surendiran said he was “still the winner” as he did not have election machinery teams unlike his two contenders.
“I am going to closely watch the performance of Teo who was a former incumbent of the Serdang seat in Selangor who is now the Kulai MP,” Surendiran said adding that she failed to do her duties there and decided to come to Johor.
He said Kulai people did not need a representative who moved from one place to another in every general election just for her political survival but instead they need a local who would stay put in the district.
Off all the independent contestants contesting in Johor, Ho Eng Wah was the only one who had set-up a service centre in the Johor Jaya to serve voters in the area.
The businessman who contested in the Johor Jaya state seat received 177 votes; the seat was won by Liow Cai Tung of Dap with 22,879 votes while Barisan’s Tan Cher Puk garnered 21,419 votes.
Ho could not be reached at press time for comments as he was away in Vietnam and would on be back to Malaysia on Tuesday.
Source:
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