KUCHING: Marindo Tahar wants his son Abdul Aziz Isa, to make history in today’s state assembly elections by winning Batu Kitang for the DAP.
Aziz, 26, is in his first election contest and has been faced with various challenges through the two-week campaign period, among them criticism from his grandmother, Mazuyin Abd Manan, 75.
Marindo said the issue was widely played up by the Barisan Nasional, but added that Aziz remained committed to his duty in serving the people.
He told FMT: “I’m proud of him entering a party that represents all races and the fact that he can speak in several languages. So son, make history.”
Marindo said even when young Aziz would always try to get what he wanted with his own initiative. “All I can give him are guidance and advice.
“I told him ‘go to the war first and then you’ll know. Even if you lose, it’s okay at least you dare to fight. If you back out before the war it means you’re giving up. So wherever they sent you to, just go ahead’,” Marindo said.
Aziz expressed confidence that DAP had a better chance of winning, hoping that his opponents would not use “dirty tactics like using my grandma just to gain sympathy votes.”
When asked about his plans if he was to be elected, Aziz said that he wished to be the voice of all Sarawakians, to fight for their rights as well as to preserve the environment.
“In a few months time you will experience air pollution. When there’s haze, people will only give masks but there’s no concrete solution to stop it. So I will make this as one of my fights to preserve Sarawak,” he said.
Batu Kitang is a new seat with a total of 17,494 voters comprising 20.1 percent Malay-Melanau, 54.8 percent Chinese, 5.8 percent Iban, 14.5 percent Bidayuh, 0.4 percent Orang Ulu and 4.4 percent of other ethnic groups.
More than 1.1 million Sarawakians are eligible to vote in the elections, the first since Adenan Satem became chief minister, taking over from Taib Mahmud.