DAP’s Muhammad Danish Zainudin said Melaka needed fresh and vibrant candidates who were capable of coming up with new policies that would benefit the people.
“I respect Norhizam as he was a hard worker, especially when serving his constituents.
“However, we need to move one step forward. Do we want fresher politics or do we want the opposite? The people of Melaka have to determine who is best to represent them for the next five years,” he told FMT.
Danish hoped that all candidates vying for the Pengkalan Batu seat would compete in a healthy manner and be able to ensure that everything they offered would be for the benefit of the voters.
On the Malay community’s distrust of DAP, he said Melakans felt the party had taken care of all people regardless of race and religion during its 22 months in the PH state government.
Danish added that DAP chairman Tey Kok Kiew was well-liked by the people, thanks to his efforts to resolve their issues.
“DAP has always been multiracial in its approach. It is a party that fights for all races and religions. All we want to do is provide the best service to the people of Melaka,” he said, adding that the party had always given youths the avenue to serve the community.
He pointed out that party veteran Lim Kit Siang was only 27 when he started out and said his own nomination for the Pengkalan Batu seat was proof of DAP’s focus on the younger generation. Danish is 25.
According to him, there are three main points in his personal agenda for Pengkalan Batu – unemployment issues, empowering youths through fostering, as well as a weekly meet-and-greet session with constituents.
Danish is contesting in a five-cornered fight for the Pengkalan Batu seat and will be facing off with Norhizam who is contesting as an independent, as well as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Kalsom Noordin, Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Azrudin Idris and Perkasa’s Aluwi Sari.
Norhizam won the seat in the 14th general election on a DAP ticket with a majority of 2,756 votes, defeating Chua Lian Chye of BN and Ramli Dalip (PAS).
Melaka goes to the polls on Nov 20, with early voting on Nov 16.