They told FMT that they will not switch sides just because Barisan Nasional (BN) replaced former MP Dr Adham Baba.
Plantation worker Muhammad Anas, 57, said it did not matter who the candidate was as long as the person was BN’s man.
“To me, the candidate does not matter because at the end of the day, the party is the one that helps us as a whole.
“Also the party knows who is the best candidate for us (Tenggara) so I am not going to doubt their decision,” he said.
Muhammad said while Adham had done a lot for the constituency, a change could also be a good thing.
“I like how BN is giving a chance to a younger candidate and I support that.”
Adham was among the BN ministers dropped by the coalition for the polls. Nevertheless, the former health minister, who is also the division’s chief, is backing the current candidate, Manndzri Nasib.
Meanwhile, plantation worker Khalid Hashim, 51, said Tenggara was predominantly a BN seat and the party had always stood up for the people when needed.
“It is not about whether I like change or not but if a party is doing well, then why change?
“If I vote for the opposition party, what happens if I don’t like their ideas? Then I will have no choice but to sit and wait for another five years.
“So to be safe, I will vote for any candidate from BN,” said Khalid who lives in one of the Felda settlements in Tenggara.
Housewife Fauziah Ismail, 47, said BN had proven to the people in the constituency that it could work for them, so there was no need to switch allegiance.
“Adham is from BN and he helped us a lot. I’m not bothered about the candidate, as long as it is BN, I will give my support,” said Fauziah from Bandar Tenggara.
Lorry driver Muhammad Hafiz, 39, said BN had won in the constituency since 1995 and this showed that the voters liked the party.
“It is not easy to maintain the winning streak unless the party or the candidate had done a lot for the constituency.
“That’s why as long as there is a BN candidate, I will vote for the person,” he said.
The Tenggara seat will see a four-cornered fight between Manndzri (BN), Zuraidah Zainab (Pakatan Harapan), Mohd Nazri Mokhtar (Perikatan Nasional) and Azhar Palal (Pejuang).
Tenggara, in Johor’s Kota Tinggi district, has an electorate that is 75.5% Malay, 16.4% Chinese, 6.6% Indian and 1.5% others.