Full support: Zainuri (left) looking on as Azmizam speaks to a constituent on his daily campaign trail. — WANI MUTHIAH/The Star
KLANG: He may have been disappointed at not being selected to contest in the Selangor state election, but Klang Umno chief Zainuri Zainal is still busy campaigning for the Pakatan Harapan candidates in Port Klang and Pandamaran.
“It is not about what I want or what I need,” said Zainuri. “I am a party man and what matters to me the most at the moment is to ensure that Selangor does not fall.”
The 50-year-old said much can be achieved for Selangor if both the federal and state governments are aligned.
There had been speculation earlier that Umno would get the Port Klang seat with Zainuri as its candidate. However, incumbent Azmizam Zaman Huri of PKR was retained.
Zainuri is seen there daily campaigning for both Azmizam and Pakatan’s Pandamaran incumbent, Tony Leong from DAP.
“I go around with them on their campaign walkabouts during the day and attend the ceramah at night,’’ said Zainuri, the son of one of Klang’s former prominent political warlords, the late Datuk Zainal Deros.
Zainuri and Azmizan have also rekindled a long history of friendship.
“Zainuri and I are both from Port Klang and were classmates from Std 1 to Std 6. We were close friends.
“When he was Klang Umno Youth chief, I was Klang PKR youth chief. Currently, we are both the Klang division heads for our parties,’’ said Azmizan.
Zainuri said he also wanted to set a good example for younger Umno members that it was important to work as a team even when things did not go as planned.
“Right now, we need to build the nation’s economy and generate employment.
“Hence, we must throw our support behind the Pakatan-Barisan unity government,’’ he said.
Azmizam added that he was very thankful for Zainuri’s help.
“He is very good at explaining to the people, especially the Malay electorate, about the importance of the unity government,’’ he said.
According to Azmizam, Zainuri had mobilised the Klang Umno election machinery and combined it with Harapan’s machinery on the ground.
Leong also said Zainuri accompanied him on walkabouts especially to areas where there was a high percentage of Malay voters.
“He explains to them what the unity government is and why it is important to vote for us, said Leong, adding that he too was truly thankful for Zainuri’s help.
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