'Pak Lah will return to Bertam to cast his vote', says Reezal Merican

KEPALA BATAS - Bertam candidate Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican today revealed that former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would return to Bertam to cast his vote on polling day.

Speaking to Sinar Daily, the former Kepala Batas member of parliament confirmed that Ahmad Badawi, popularly known as 'Pak Lah, would cast his vote in the upcoming state election.

"Pak Lah (Ahmad Badawi) is not doing that well; he is suffering from dementia, but one thing is for sure: you can be rest assured that he will come back to cast his vote," he said.

Reezal further said that he has received Pak Lah's blessings since he served as a member of parliament.

He, however, intends to claim victory this time around after losing in the previous general election.

"Pak Lah (Ahmad Badawi) had given me his blessings but I thought I failed him when I lost in the previous election. The only thing I want now is to redeem my victory in this election.

"I want to see the revival of Kepala Batas begin from Bertam," he said when met after his walkabout in Kepala Batas town today.

The Bertam state seat, which falls under the Kepala Batas parliament, was previously held by Ahmad Badawi.

It has also been a safe seat for Barisan for the last five decades.

Reezal lost the seat to Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Dr Siti Mastura Mohamad with a majority of 2,800 votes.

"My loss in the previous general election was unexpected. "However, it was a sign for me when Bertam folks said, 'Reezal, you have lost, but don't leave Bertam'.

"They said they needed me and told me to continue my service in Bertam," he said.

Reezal faces a straight fight against Khalid Mehtab Mohd Ishaq of Perikatan Nasional (PN) for the Bertam seat in the state polls.