Latif Bandi, with two others, was charged with 21 counts of money laundering amounting to RM35.78 million in connection with the Johor land scandal that broke out in March last year. Latiff Ahmad, Mersing’s four-term MP, recently announced he would not contest in the next general election (GE14). This means that neither will be contesting in the coming polls.
According to Johor PKR Youth information chief Khairil Adanan, he had been informed by friends in the Mersing Umno division that there was no potential candidate acceptable to both camps.
“Many of the Umno division members are friends from school, so we talk about these things. Currently, I don’t see a strong candidate from Umno who can help Barisan Nasional (BN) retain the Mersing seat,” Khairil told FMT.
“What’s worse is that some of Latif Bandi’s supporters have told me they were not happy with Latiff Ahmad so much so they are willing to support the opposition if a candidate is proposed from ‘the other camp’.”
Umno unity
Mersing Umno Youth information chief Muhammad Syukri Ibrahim however dismissed the idea that infighting within his division would affect BN’s chances of retaining the seat in GE14.
“Infighting within a party is no threat. Voters are only concerned if a candidate will be able to contribute to the constituency.
“In every party there are always several ‘camps’. It is normal, and to me it is something healthy. If there is no competition within a party, it proves that the leadership is ‘dead’.
“It won’t affect the party and drag on until the general election. Disagreements may be noticeable now, but when the day comes, party members will come together and party problems will be put aside,” he told FMT.
Syukri added that Umno members realised this was a tough election for BN, and that it could not afford to lose even one seat.
“This message is clear across the board. There will be no sabotage or boycott against the party machinery. That is an understanding that Umno members have.”
He said Mersing was still known as a stronghold in Johor, especially Tenggaroh although it was a Felda settlement.
“Even if we field a candidate from another component party, people will still vote for BN. Whoever the party leadership decides on, we will obey.”
In the last general election, Latiff Ahmad won the seat with a 15,747-vote majority against PAS’ Roslan Nikmat.
He was first elected as the state assemblyman for Endau in 1995. He switched seats in 1999 to stand for the Mersing parliamentary seat and has remained MP since then. He has also served as deputy human resources minister (1999 to 2004), deputy health minister (2004 to 2010) and deputy defence minister (2010 to 2013).
However, he was left out of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s cabinet after the last general election in 2013 and was later appointed as the chairman of government-owned housing development company, Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd.
Projects announced
Johor is slated to be a major battleground between BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH), and leaders from both coalitions often visit the state to woo voters. Government leaders have also made some announcements on new projects ahead of GE14.
For instance, last September, the government announced the construction of the Mersing Harbour Centre, a RM12 million tourism and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hub.
The project will house 50 SMEs offering a variety of products and services, including seafood products, art and handicraft, local delicacies and island-hopping tour services.
Umno leaders say the project will be a major tourist attraction in Mersing but the opposition’s Khairil says this is just another gimmick by BN to attract voters.
He said: “In the past, the government announced many projects to boost tourism in Mersing. However, until today there isn’t any proper infrastructure to support these tourism projects. To travel from Mersing to the islands is a huge hassle. Getting to Mersing itself is a hassle.
“Look what happened with the Mersing Laguna project. It was one of the many failed projects.”