Ayer Kuning: The ongoing development and infrastructure projects in the Ayer Kuning state constituency received approval before the by-election was called, stated Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. He highlighted the traffic dispersal project in Tapah town, which is currently in progress, noting that it was sanctioned during the tenure of Ishsam Shahruddin as the Ayer Kuning Assemblyman.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the project is slated for completion on April 30. Ishsam had also applied for funds for the development of mosques, surau, and religious schools in the constituency. Saarani mentioned that Ishsam submitted the application through a letter dated February 20, just two days prior to his passing. “I only opened the letter on Feb 24. I didn’t have the heart to not approve it because it was a request before he passed away,” he stated during a press conference after launching the ‘Bantuan Sara Diri dan Kecemasan, Bantuan Baucar Buku’.

Saarani’s comments come in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s reminder against using government machinery or allocations for campaigning in the Ayer Kuning state by-election. Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Dr. Mohamad Yusri Bakir, during the Jualan Sejahtera Rakyat Ayer Kuning programme, expressed confidence about winning the by-election despite the absence of government machinery and allocations.

“I remain confident that our hard work will pay off. The public’s reception has been encouraging. Insya Allah, we will achieve our goal,” he said. The Ayer Kuning by-election, prompted by Ishsam’s death on February 22, features a three-cornered contest among Mohamad Yusri, Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Abd Muhaimin Malek, and PSM candidate Bawani KS. The Election Commission has scheduled April 26 for polling day, with early voting set for April 22.