They told FMT that they trust Wee’s track record of serving the community over the past decade.
Trader Tan Kok Liong said he would vote based on who could get the job done, not the political affiliation of the candidate.
“Barisan Nasional’s (BN) boss is not good, but I choose this candidate because of his track record,” he said.
Tan, 62, also said he was disappointed with the government’s efforts to tackle the cost of living.
“Last year, I held on to the hope of a new government, but now I am disappointed,” he said.
The by-election this weekend will see a six-cornered fight between BN’s Wee, Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Karmaine Sardini, Gerakan’s Wendy Subramaniam, Berjasa’s Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz and independent candidates Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar and Ang Chuan Lock.
Fisherman Au Leong Qing said he, too, had his eye set on Wee, “the number two candidate” on the ballot paper.
“We know that he does his job,” he said. “Even as an opposition member now, we know he will do his best to help us.”
Au said despite no longer being an MP, Wee had continued to meet with locals since the general election which saw BN’s fall from power last year.
“He came to see us immediately after the water pollution incident,” he added, referring to the episode which saw fishermen suffer about RM5 million in losses.
A trader who called herself Teoh said she knew of some voters who now regret voting for the opposition at the time.
“Nothing seems to have changed in terms of the economy and cost of living,” she said.
Another voter in Kukup, Muhammad Salehan Mohd Shaid, said he too saw no improvement in the cost of living, adding that the prices of goods are still increasing.
“I’ve made up my mind to choose the ‘dacing’ this time,” he said, referring to BN’s logo.
Salehan used to work at the Tanjung Bin power plant here but now runs a food stall. At the power plant, he said, he used to earn less than RM1,500 in basic salary. He said some of his friends had voted for PH last year, hoping that their basic salary would increase.
“I do not see that happening so far,” he added.
There are just under 53,000 voters in the Tanjung Piai constituency, which includes the state seats of Pekan Nanas and Kukup.
The by-election on Saturday, the ninth since the May 9 polls last year, was triggered by the death of incumbent Md Farik Md Rafik.
Farik had won the seat with a 524-majority, defeating Wee and PAS’ Nordin Othman.