Pelangai by-election: Admit the problem, work to solve it - Dr Akmal

BENTONG - Umno Youth Chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh does not reject the fact that youths are now easily attracted to Perikatan Nasional (PN), but his party has a strategy to ensure the victory of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Pelangai state assembly by-election.

He said about 3,000 of Youth’s machinery were ready to maintain the victory of the seat.

"We do not deny that the young people are easily attracted to PN but we have our own strategy... the important thing is to admit our real problem, which means we have to work for it.

"We have to meet the young people, listen to what they have to say... and we have been meeting them for the last two weeks. They are positive," he said when met after the Youth Chief’s Mandate Program in Kampung Shafie here, on Saturday.

He added that infrastructure development was one of the issues that young people highlighted which needed to be implemented to meet their needs.

"It needs to be improved in terms of infrastructure, recreation, their sports venues.

"This can only be implemented if Pelangai becomes part of the state government as well as the central government," he said.

The Pelangai state assembly by-election saw three-corner fight from BN, PN and Independent candidates.

BN contested it is Bentong Umno Committee Member Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, 50, who is a native of Felda Chemomoi.

Meanwhile, PN named Bentong Pas Vice President, Kasim Samat, 63, or better known as Cikgu Kasim.

Former Kampung Sum-Sum Umno member Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli ran as an independent candidate using the car symbol.