This was after Ahmad in 2015 welcomed and praised the goods and services tax (GST) while most Malaysians were up in arms against it, blaming it for causing a rise in prices.
Adding to the ire of the people, Ahmad said the tax could in fact potentially reduce the prices of goods.
This made him the target of many parties, from the opposition to those on the street who mocked him in parodies.
He attracted further ridicule after he uploaded a picture of himself smiling beside a kuali which he used to offer a “mixed fried rice recipe without GST” two months after the tax came into force.
Although three years have passed, the criticism and negative image of him associated with the unpopular tax are still rich fodder used in the opposition campaign to unseat him from the Pontian seat which he has held for 10 years.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) is raring to highlight the GST and rising prices of goods as issues in the 14th general election (GE14), the first national polls since the tax was imposed on April 1, 2015.
The attacks on Ahmad are expected to feature prominently in the coming campaign in Pontian.
Ahmad, a graduate in economics from a New Zealand university, was first elected to Pontian in 2008 after defeating PKR’s Mohd Annuar Mohd Salleh with a thumping 14,000-vote majority. He retained the seat by a similar margin in 2013.
This time, he will face PPBM, a component of PH which also includes PKR, DAP and Amanah.
Despite his missteps, Ahmad remains a formidable opponent in the constituency, and Pontian PPBM chairman Zulkifly Tasrep is not underestimating the local popularity of the international trade and industry deputy minister.
Zulkifly sees only a 50-50 chance for victory which will depend on a swing in the traditional Malay support away from Umno.
“Feedback from our ground work in the villages indicates a change towards the opposition, pressured by the soaring prices of goods,” he said.
Zulkifly added that Pontian residents were also angry and fed up with Ahmad whom they claimed “didn’t do what he said”.
He said there were even Pontian-born people residing elsewhere who were ashamed to admit they came from there because of the “nonsensical statements” made by Ahmad.
In Pontian, he added, villagers were becoming increasingly receptive to PPBM.
These residents include those from Ahmad’s strongholds in Kampung Parit Puteri Menangis and Kampung Parit Marjunit.
“In the past, the opposition could not penetrate these places. But now PPBM campaigners are getting a positive response from the residents instead of being chased away.”
Attempts by FMT to seek comments from Ahmad have been unsuccessful so far.