People-friendly: (From left) Barisan’s Mohd Fared, Warisan’s Lim, Pejuang’s Muhammad Airel and Muda’s Sangaran are hoping to win the hearts of voters beyond their good looks.

       JOHOR BARU: Being the youngest candidate in a five-way fight for the Semerah state seat, lawyer Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid hopes to charm voters with his people-friendly persona.

       The 43-year-old played down his looks and said he aims to offer voters his services and focus on everyday issues such as making sure the needs of the people, such as senior citizens, fishermen and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are met.

       “Some fishermen jetties in the constituency are not equipped with water supply and it is one of the issues I am to focus on besides providing better equipment and marketing assistance for SMEs.

       “I want to make sure the community’s basic needs that tend to be overlooked such as food supply, shelter and jobs are secured before moving onto bigger issues,” said the Johor Umno Youth vice-chief in an interview as the campaigning period enters the half-way mark.

       Parti Warisan Sabah’s Bukit Batu state seat candidate Lim Ming Wen believed that voters are more mature now and want more than just a good-looking elected representative.

       “As a Johorean who grew up in Skudai, nearby, I am familiar with the issues in Bukit Batu and Kulai – such as road safety issues at Batu 24 and the lack of lamp posts along Batu 33,” said the 38-year-old.

       Parti Pejuang Tanah Air’s Tangkak seat candidate Muhammad Airel Zabridin said he will be depending on knowledge and ideas, rather than looks, to win the hearts of voters.

       The 26-year-old newcomer plans to bring development and job opportunities to Tangkak.

       Malaysian United Democratic Alliance candidate for the Machap seat R. Sangaran said charisma and looks only play a very small role in his campaign.

       “Sure, people may like those with a strong charisma but it should be backed with other things, especially what we can do for the people,” said the 32-year-old lawyer whose focus is to give the people of Machap better connectivity, education and work opportunities.

       Johor will go to the polls on March 12.