Kuala lumpur: Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Klawang state seat, Datuk Bakri Sawir, is relying on his track record as a two-term assemblyman to secure a third consecutive term in the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election. The incumbent assemblyman said his people-centric approach, which he has practised since first being elected in 2018, remains the cornerstone of his campaign. With fewer than 14,000 voters in the constituency, he said he has been able to build close relationships with many residents.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bakri said his priority has always been to stay close to the people by visiting them personally and delivering assistance directly to their homes, rather than requiring them to visit his service centre. "I have always practised a door-to-door approach. When it comes to assistance, I do not ask people to come to me ...I go to them instead. I hope those who are still undecided will assess my record of service and compare it with representatives who only appear once every five years," he told Bernama while campaigning at the weekly market in Pekan Kuala Klawang today.
The 67-year-old said one of the commitments he has honoured since becoming the Klawang assemblyman in 2018 is living within the constituency, enabling him to remain accessible to residents at all times, a factor he believes gives him an advantage in the current election. While acknowledging that not everyone will support him, Bakri said he respects differing political views and regards politics as a platform for serving the community.
"I have always said that I want to make politics an act of worship and a path to paradise. If people accept that principle and wish to support me, Alhamdulillah. If not, that is their choice," he said. Looking ahead, Bakri said he intends to continue pursuing several development initiatives that have yet to be realised if given a third term.
Among them is his long-standing proposal to establish a higher education institution in Jelebu to strengthen human capital development in the district. "I previously proposed setting up Universiti Malaysia Negeri Sembilan here, but current financial constraints make it difficult. Nevertheless, we will continue to pursue this vision," he said.
In the meantime, Bakri said he is focusing on practical projects that can deliver immediate economic benefits, including the development of a Rest and Recreation Area (RandR) in Tembun, Hulu Klawang. "I will continue working to ensure Klawang has a proper stopover facility. With good infrastructure, I am confident more tourists will stop here, creating economic opportunities for the locals," he said.
He also plans to transform Bukit Tajali into a recreational park offering a range of activities, from leisure pursuits to outdoor adventure tourism. In addition, Bakri said he hopes to further develop Jelebu's agrotourism sector by capitalising on the historical significance of the British Memorial Stone in the area.
The Klawang constituency is witnessing a three-cornered contest involving Bakri, Danni Rais, 38, of Perikatan Nasional (PN), and Muhammad Adib Musa, 25, of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). The Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly was dissolved on June 5. The Election Commission has set Aug 1 as the polling day, with early voting scheduled for July 28. A total of 889,490 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the state election, comprising 867,151 ordinary voters, 16,884 military personnel and their spouses, and 5,455 police personnel who will vote early.