KAMPUNG GAJAH: Umno should field a young candidate in Pasir Salak instead of three-term member of parliament Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who has been suspended for six years.
People here said the federal lawmaker was not popular enough to contest without Umno and Barisan Nasional's (BN) backing.
Salbiah Yazidun, 34, from Kampung Gajah said Pasir Salak had been a BN stronghold for decades and it would be tough for any independent, even Tajuddin, to overcome this.
"This is an opportunity for Umno to nominate a fresh and young candidate for the 15th General Election.
"We need a young representative who has fresh ideas to develop this place, to help the people here. If you have worked for so long, you become unproductive. We are tired of seeing the same face," she said.
Another Kampung Gajah resident, who wishes only to be identified as Razak, said Tajuddin would find it tough to win support from voters in the constituency if he stood as an independent.
"Tajuddin gained popularity here because he represented Umno and BN. He is nobody without this party. Three terms is enough for him.
"We don't see any development here. Young people migrate to other places for work. I don't think he (Tajuddin) can win as an independent.
"(Pasir Salak) has been BN all this while and there are high chances of BN winning here whomever they field," said the 50-year-old.
A check at Tajuddin's residence at Jalan Tanjung Tualang, Kampung Gajah here found the premises quiet, and he has not responded to requests for comment.
Another villager, Mohd Fahmi Hassan, 55 said there must be good reasons for the Umno Supreme Council to suspend Tajuddin.
"Every organisation has rules and if anyone breaks them, be it a veteran or a new member, they will face the music.
"Since Tajuddin has been suspended, I think Umno should field a young candidate. Young people always have new ideas. Let's give them a chance.
"There is no perfect party in the country, and it is not wrong to give young people a chance to lead. Don't field a candidate because he is rich, we need to find a sincere candidate who can help the people," he said.
Pasir Salak is a Malay-majority parliamentary constituency that was first contested in the 1986 General Election.
The BN has never lost the seat and has seen coalition luminaries such as the late domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayub and former Perak menteri besar and Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib representing the seat.
Yesterday, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi confirmed that Tajuddin and Alor Star division chief Datuk Mohd Yusof Ismail had been suspended for six years.
Tajuddin was sacked from the Umno Supreme Council three months ago for calling party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi a "liability" and demanding the latter's resignation.
In July, Tajuddin was removed as the designate ambassador to Indonesia.
