PEKAN: Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar, the mother of Barisan Nasional's Peramu Jaya state seat candidate, Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib, today set foot in Pekan for the first time in 30 years.
The 66-year-old returned to vote and pledged her support for Nizar, who is also the eldest son of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is making his general election debut.
She described her return to the district as "meaningful" since this is the first time that she is voting in the Pekan parliament constituency and Peramu Jaya state seat after leaving the district some 30 years ago.
"I have mixed emotions as I was given the opportunity to cast my vote here today. It is a significant moment to see my son (Nizar) contesting in Peramu Jaya. I hope my vote will play a vital role in helping him secure a huge victory to become an elected representative.
"I was also here to support him during nomination day. I hope my presence will give him more strength," she said after casting her vote at Sekolah Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Pekan here today.
She was accompanied by Nizar, Nizar's wife, Datin Nur Sharmila Shaheen, and her daughter, Putri Norlisa Najib.
Tengku Puteri Zainah said voters had displayed strong support towards Nizar and she was hoping that this would give him the edge to win big in Peramu Jaya.
Nizar, who earlier cast his vote at SMK Peramu Jaya with his wife, said his mother's presence and support were a morale booster.
He said he was satisfied with the voter turnout at several polling centres in Peramu Jaya and was glad that people had come out in droves to fulfil their voting obligation towards the country.