Menteri Besar Pahang Adnan Yaakob said the Orang Asli community must be smart in choosing their elected representatives who can bring changes to this minority group.

He said the Orang Asli should not be easily influenced by the sweet promises made by the various groups in their efforts to fish for votes in the by-election for the Kerdau state assembly seat.

"I believe the Orang Asli community are wise in evaluating whether the promises made are false or merely for political gain," he said at a gathering with the Orang Asli settlers at Kampung Paya Sendayan, Kerdau.

Kampung Paya Sendayan is the only Orang Asli settlement in the Kerdau constituency with a population of more than 1,000 people.

The Kerdau state seat is now vacant following the death of its assemblyperson Zaharuddin Abu Kassim on Feb 12 and the Election Commission has set Feb 26 as the nomination day while polling has been fixed for March 6.

Adnan said the Orang Asli must avoid themselves from being made use of by certain political parties which apparently wanted their votes purely for political gain.

At the function, Adnan promised that he would endeavour to resolve all problems faced by the settlers there.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Orang Asli settlers in the village pledged to support the BN candidate in the by-election.

- Bernama