Keadilan yesterday organised a health clinic for the people of Kuantan, which was attended by its candidates for the Kuantan parliamentary seat and the Teruntum state seat.

A total of six doctors, assisted by 10 party members, handled the clinic which attracted about 150 people. The four-hour programme, which started at 2pm, also provided a counter for visitors to check their voting centres.

The party's candidate for Kuantan, Fuziah Salleh, told malaysiakini today that among the issues that she is raising during her campaign is the shortage of low-cost housing projects.

"People in the low-income bracket find it difficult to buy low-cost houses even though they have applied to the relevant government agencies," she said.

"It's not that the BN government cannot solve this problem. They are just not interested in it at all."

Fuziah added that although she lost to Umno strongman and former Pahang Menteri Besar Khalil Yaakob in the 1999 elections, she has continued to serve the people in the constituency.

In 1999, Khalil bagged 28,497 votes to defeat Fuziah by 7,361 votes. Fuziah garnered 21,136 votes. This time, she will face BN candidate Fu Ah Kiow for the seat with 45,718 voters, of whom Malays make up 58% and Chinese 37%.

The party's candidate for the Teruntum state seat, JK Pang, said that he hopes voters will not fall for "dubious tactics" employed by BN candidates.

He also said he was happy to meet voters personally without "being backed up by a big election machinery like the BN and without a RTM television cameraman and a huge entourage on my back."

Pang will be facing BN's Ti Lian Ker for the Chinese-majority seat. In 1999, the seat was won by BN's Kan Tong Leong who obtained 10,115 votes to beat DAP's Wong Kim Yun who garnered 6,436 votes.

The BN candidates for the two seats have been on their campaign rounds, greeting shopkeepers and distributing leaflets. They also took part in a '3 on 3' basketball game and a karaoke competition.

Minimal BN presence

Based on observations and feedback from voters, BN may retain both seats, but may find the going difficult for the two other state seats under the Kuantan parliamentary constituency.

"There are hardly any BN campaign posters and flags in Tanjung Lumpur and Inderapura, only opposition flags and banners," noted an observer.

The Malay-majority Tanjung Lumpur state seat is a new seat which will see Umno's Dr Nasharuddin Zainuddin standing against PAS candidate Bahrin Mohamad.

The Inderapura state will see incumbent Abdul Aziz Haji Long of PAS battling Umno's Shafik Fauzan Sharif.

In 1999, Abdul Aziz defeated BN candidate Zainuddin Juma'at by a majority of 1,925 votes. Abdul Aziz garnered 9,326 votes compared to Zainuddin's 7,401 for the seat which then called Penur.