Sink or swim for Dzulkefly in Kuala Selangor

With polling day just around the corner, it will be sink or swim for Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in Kuala Selangor, a seat that he currently holds but where residents voice dissatisfaction with the perennial floods, problematic roads, and what they describe as a general lack of progress in this regard. 

Those who spoke to MalaysiaNow said the former health minister did not appear to have brought any change throughout his tenure as their MP. 

S Ganesan said he was now inclined to Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. 

"When it flooded last year, many things were destroyed. 

"Five of my goats died. I got RM1,000 from the MP's office but Ismail gave RM3,500," he said, referring to the financial aid announced by the prime minister last year.  

Kuala Selangor was one of several areas in Selangor that were badly affected by the floods last year which caused millions in losses and claimed nearly 50 lives. 

Other areas included Taman Sri Muda and Hulu Langat. 

During a visit to a flood relief centre at the time, Dzulkefly was blasted by a man who accused him of being late in efforts to help those affected by the disaster. 

The Amanah strategy director won the Kuala Selangor seat at the 2018 general election with a majority of 8,498 votes, defeating Irmohizam Ibrahim of BN and Fakaruddin Ismail of PAS.

He is defending his seat against Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, representing BN, Mohd Shaid Rosli of Pejuang and Perikatan Nasional candidate Mohd Noor Mohd Sahar.

Tengku Zafrul, who is contesting an election for the first time, has been active during the campaign period, boosted by the visibility afforded by his Cabinet portfolio. 

Ganesan, who works at the Melawati bus terminal, said he had voted for PH in 2018 but was disappointed with the coalition's performance.

He said many of his friends' children had since moved to Singapore in order to find work. 

A petty trader who introduced himself as Lan agreed, pointing to the floods that had occurred just recently in the area. 

"Last night, some villages here were flooded including Kampung Batu 28, Kampung Bukit Badong, and Seri Sentosa," he said. 

"It looks like he hasn't brought any change at all," Lan, who has lived in Ijok, Kuala Selangor, for 30 years now, added. 

He said lorries often went back and forth through the area, causing damage and potholes in the roads. 

"A lot of accidents happen in this area," he added. 

Bus driver S Shanmugam said he had gone to Dzulkefly to ask for help in order to buy a pair of glasses for his child, adding however that he was ignored. 

"Representatives should meet with the people and ask about their problems," he said. 

"Zafrul hasn't done anything yet but I could give him a chance."