MELAKA: The matter of Sungai Udang residents here being left out or ignored, especially in terms of welfare needs, will be a major focus for Barisan Nasional (candidate Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad if he gets the people's mandate on Nov 20.

       Mohamad Ali, who is state Umno liaison deputy chairman, said the issue should be taken seriously as the affected residents in two housing areas and a village are part of the constituency and have the right to enjoy privileges like those in other areas.

       Describing the situation as inappropriate and unfair to the residents involved, he said he would do his best to resolve their problems if elected assemblyman.

       "They are part of the voters in Sungai Udang even though the housing estates and village have been gazetted as areas within the Lendu constituency due to the redelineation of electoral boundaries.

       "As an elected representative, I will help them as it is part of the responsibility of an elected representative," he told reporters when met in Klebang here on Sunday (Nov 14).

       On Saturday (Nov 13), Bernama reported that residents of the housing areas and village claimed they had been ignored as a result of the redelineation of electoral boundaries in 2018.

       They claimed the redelineation exercise resulted in Taman Indah, Taman Terendak Heights and the Tanah Merah settlement area to become part of the Lendu state constituency, under the Alor Gajah district, but the residents remain as voters in the Sungai Udang constituency.

       They claimed that this situation has caused confusion and made it difficult for them to get help from their elected representative, the State Legislative Assembly Development and Coordination Committee Office, and the local authorities.

       Mohamad Ali, who is also Tangga Batu Umno division chief, said he would ask for the two housing areas and the village to be restored to the Sungai Udang constituency in the next redelineation.

       He said other issues raised by the residents in Sungai Udang included road facilities, health and education, which he said would be given attention to ensure the comfort and well-being of the constituents.

       Sungai Udang is located in the Tangga Batu parliamentary constituency. Apart from Terendak Camp, which is a military camp, it houses the Sungai Udang Prison and a Petronas refinery.

       There are a total of 22,866 registered voters in the constituency, of whom 9,577 are early voters, comprising members of the Armed Forces and police.

       The contest for the Sungai Udang seat is a four-cornered fight involving Mohamad Ali, Dr Mohd Aleef Yusof of Perikatan Nasional, Hasmorni Tamby of Pakatan Harapan, and independent Major General (Rtd) Datuk Mohd Zahar Hasim.

       In the 14th General Election, the seat was won by Datuk Seri Idris Haron with a majority of 2,229 votes, defeating Mohd Lokman Abdul Gani of PKR.

       The Election Commission has set Nov 20 as polling day for the Melaka state election, with early voting on Nov 16.

       The election was called following the dissolution of the state assembly on Oct 4 after four state assemblymen withdrew support for the chief minister. – Bernama