BN candidate Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu's physical absence in the ongoing campaigns in the Tanjong Datu by-election is a new experience for the voters here.
State BN back bencher club (BNBBC) chief Abdullah Saidol said Jamilah's absence to observe 'tempoh iddah' had drawn some amount of curiosity particularly among non-Muslim voters in some remote rural areas.
"Even some Muslim voters had also asked about her absence. Of course they asked not out of any ill intention. They are just curious," he told Bernama when met during a brief visit to the media centre set up by the Information Department for the by-election.
Abdullah who is also chief political secretary to the chief minister said the BN here would soon release leaflets containing a private message from Jamilah to explain her absence.
"This will be done in various local dialects," he said.
On the whole, the majority of voters understand Jamilah's situation and the BN machinery had explained this on the ground.
"Even among non-Muslim bumiputeras and locals here, a wife is not supposed to be very visible socially for a certain period following the death of her husband.
"This is actually the norm and the culture observed by every community," Abdullah explained.
Meanwhile, he said the BN machinery would intensify its campaigns although these would be more on personal touch approach where they would pay visits minus the usual fanfare.
"We have all 48 members of the BNBBC who are elected state representatives on the ground now and assisted by the political secretaries.
"We have also mobilised many youth and women members of the Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) party," he said.
He said they had been assigned to every village in all 15 polling districts to campaign and gather feedbacks on the people's grouses and problems.
"We will relay them to our war room to be forwarded to the relevant agencies and department for remedies, no matter how small they are," he said.
On the usage of social media applications during campaigning, he said these were directed at voters working or staying outside Tanjong Datu.
"But our preference is for the more personal visits to the voters on the ground. This is much more effective in reaching out to them," he added.
The by-election is held following the death of its incumbent and Sarawak's fifth Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem on January 11 due to heart complications.
His widow Jamilah, 61, was nominated by the BN to defend the seat and is challenged by a candidate each from Sarawak State Reform Party (STAR) and PBDS Baru. -- Bernama
Bernama
Tue Feb 14 2017
Jamilah, Tan Sri Adenan Satem's widow, was nominated by the BN to defend the seat and is challenged by a candidate each from Sarawak State Reform Party (STAR) and PBDS Baru. - Filepic
Anwar tekan kepentingan sokong pengiktirafan negara Palestin di PBB
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menekankan kepentingan menyokong pengiktirafan negara Palestin di Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) ketika bertemu rakan sejawatnya dari Jordan, Bisher Hani Al-Khasawneh, di luar mesyuarat khas Forum Ekonomi Sedunia (WEF) di Riyadh Arab Saudi pada Ahad.
Muhammad Hakim Danish naik podium di GP Sepanyol
Pelumba muda negara Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli mempamerkan peningkatan prestasi apabila menamatkan perlumbaan 2 Grand Prix (GP) Sepanyol bagi saingan Rookies Cup di kedudukan podium hari ini.
10 Berita Pilihan - (28 April 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
AWANI Ringkas: Inspektor ditahan kerja
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Ratu cantik Malaysia Harveen Kaur tawan Puncak Mera namun hilang jari akibat luka beku
Puncak Mera yang berketinggian 6,470 meter dari paras laut itu mampu memberi cabaran hebat meskipun kepada pendaki paling berpengalaman.
'Dek Wan' terus menyinar di Maghribi
Dek Wan mempamerkan larian bertenaga dengan mencatat masa 12.52 saat (s) untuk meninggalkan Taha Al Harrasi (12.65s) dari Oman.
Piala Thomas: Malaysia tempah slot ke suku akhir
Malaysia berjaya menempah slot ke suku akhir selepas menewaskan Algeria dengan kemenangan 5-0 dalam saingan Piala Thomas di Chengdu, China sebentar tadi.
Thailand: Enam muka baharu sertai Kabinet Srettha
Perdana Menteri Thailand Srettha Thavisin melantik enam menteri kabinet baharu.
Anwar bertemu PM Jordan, tekan kepentingan sokong pengiktirafan negara Palestin di PBB
Pada pertemuan itu, Perdana Menteri turut menekankan kepentingan memastikan Israel dipertanggungjawabkan terhadap kekejamannya di Palestin.
Lebih ramai atlet dijangka layak ke Paris 2024
Kontinjen Malaysia ke Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 terus diperkuat dengan empat lagi atlet berjaya mengesahkan slot ke temasya terbesar dunia itu minggu ini, menjadikan sejumlah 10 atlet layak setakat ini
Lebih 30,000 meriahkan konsert rakyat sempena 60 Tahun Sarawak Merdeka
Persembahan konsert yang berlangsung selama empat jam bermula 8 malam itu merentasi muzik dari era 90-an sehingga kini.
Pemimpin Sarawak perlu bincang pelaksanaan undang-undang larang ADUN lompat parti
Datuk Abdullah Saidol berkata secara prinsip beliau menyokong larangan melompat parti itu diguna pakai di Sarawak serta Dewan Undangan Negeri itu.
Penduduk Sarawak tunjuk kesedaran awam tinggi - Abdullah Saidol
Kebanyakan kes COVID-19 yang direkodkan di Sarawak dikesan menerusi inisiatif ramai yang membuat ujian calitan (swab test) secara sukarela.
'Peruntukan kepada Sarawak perlu diurus tanpa halangan birokrasi kurang cekap'
Peruntukan sebanyak RM29.2 bilion kepada Sarawak dan Sabah dalam Bajet 2016 perlu diurus dengan bijak dan efektif tanpa halangan birokrasi yang kurang cekap,kata Pengerusi Kelab Penyokong BN Sarawak.