MELAKA: Perikatan Nasional candidate for Pantai Kundor, Datin Seri Dr Asmah Samat, is determined to establish her own identity and prove her capabilities in politics, independent of her husband’s position as a Selangor state assemblyman.
Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in public healthcare and government service, she hopes to bring residents’ concerns, particularly those of fishermen and small traders, to the forefront.
She said one of the main concerns raised by residents was the impact of land reclamation projects on coastal fishermen, who claimed the works had affected their fishing grounds and livelihoods.
She said most fishermen in the area depended on coastal and mid-sea fishing as they could not afford to venture into deeper waters.
“When coastal areas are reclaimed, fishing grounds for shrimp, small fish and pomfret are affected, directly impacting their livelihoods.
“Those fishing further out also face problems as their nets risk being hit by vessels passing through the area,” she said when met at the Bersatu operations room for the Pantai Kundor constituency here last night.
She said each issue needed to be examined thoroughly to identify the best solutions, as they directly affected residents who depended on fishing for their income.
Apart from fishermen, she had also received complaints from small traders who claimed they were no longer allowed to operate at their usual locations, affecting their income.
She said the matter warranted attention as their businesses were a source of livelihood for their families.
On the two-cornered contest against incumbent Datuk Tuminah Kadi, Dr Asmah said her roots in the constituency gave her an advantage in reaching out to voters during the campaign.
She said some residents still recognised her family background, including her late father, who was an imam in Tangga Batu Kecil, and remembered her growing up and attending school with them.
“To me, contests are normal, whether between two men or two women.
“Each candidate has their own strengths and opportunities. Ultimately, it is a matter of fate,” she said.
In the 2021 Melaka election, Tuminah won the Pantai Kundor seat with 3,960 votes, defeating the PN candidate, who secured 3,133 votes, and the PH candidate, who garnered 2,799 votes. She won with a majority of 827 votes.