MELAKA: Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Asahan state seat, Fairul Nizam Roslan, has described an assemblyman’s role as one that takes care of the people from birth to death.

       Fairul Nizam, 43, fondly called Along, said an assemblyman is not just an elected representative looking after the aged and the young, but the role includes looking into the welfare of those who have yet to be born as well.

       “An assemblyman is the closest public figure to the people, and he knows virtually all residents in the constituency,” he said in a special programme uploaded on Umno’s Facebook page.

       As such, he said it is important for young leaders to keep pace with the people, but at the same time, the foresight of the seniors is equally important as they have enormous experience.

       In this regard, Fairul Nizam said his nickname “Along” has deep meaning for him.

       He said he would prefer the community in Asahan call him “Along” as he is very close to the people in the area, rather than the more formal address of YB (Yang Berhormat), if he is given the mandate to represent them.

       “I have been called ‘Along’ since I was a young boy, and the name somehow got stuck to me, and now the people in Asahan are calling me ‘Along’,” he said.

       Fairul Nizam, also the Melaka Umno Youth chief, said the Asahan community is very close to his heart as his political career began in 1997 in Alor Gajah.

       He added that his priority is the education of the children in Asahan as he believes education is the key to stability in many areas.

       Asahan is seeing a six-cornered battle between Fairul Nizam, B. Danesh (Perikatan Nasional), Datuk Seri Idris Haron (Pakatan Harapan) and three Independent candidates: Mohd Noor Salleh, Azmar Ab Hamid, and Mohd Akhir Ayob. – Bernama