'Issues in Taman Medan? Reach out to Dr Afif at 012-4403265'
PETALING JAYA - Within just 24 hours of confirming his victory in the Taman Medan state seat, D Afif Bahardin has already hit the ground running, fully embracing his role as a public representative.
When interviewed by Awani on Sunday, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate reiterated his commitment to honor his promises to voters and to diligently fulfill his responsibilities after being entrusted with the mandate.
For the former medical practitioner, this period is not a honeymoon phase, but rather a time to serve the public, even as part of the opposition in Selangor.
"Alhamdulillah, PN secured 22 seats, which is seven seats short of what is required to form the state government.
"Nevertheless, this has kept our determination strong. This marks a fresh beginning for PN, as we are well aware of the public's strong support for our coalition. They've vested their hopes in the PN representatives chosen."
"In Taman Medan, I understand that the majority is a mere 30 votes, yet we highly respect the voice of the public.
"The democratic process of the election is behind us, and now it's time to serve and rejuvenate hope for Selangor, effectively becoming the voice of the people in the state assembly," he said.
Dr Afif secured victory by a narrow margin of 30 votes, amassing 22,316 votes and defeating Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Ahmad Akhir Pawan Chik, who garnered 22,286 votes.
This triumph comes after Dr Afif's previous loss in the Shah Alam Parliamentary election during the 15th general election (GE15).
Reflecting on his slim majority, the Selangor PN secretary noted the lower voter turnout compared to the previous general election.
Despite this, he expressed confidence that a higher voter participation rate could have led to PN securing more seats in Selangor.
Dr Afif stressed that his victory was undeniable as it had been confirmed by the Election Commission (EC), and the vote tallying process had proceeded smoothly.
"Though 30 votes might not constitute a wave, Taman Medan has become a new 'blue' point amidst the 'red' landscape of Selangor. Insya-Allah, Taman Medan will become a catalyst in the upcoming general election, allowing me once again to offer myself for service in the Selangor government.
"Our commitment extends not only to providing service but to truly becoming the voice of the Selangor public," he added.
Highlighting the crucial issues in Taman Medan, including development, infrastructure, waste management, and public health, Dr Afif acknowledged that these challenges arise due to the high population density in the area.
He highlighted the need for the newly formed state government to collaborate with all parties, including the opposition, to find comprehensive solutions for these issues.
Expressing his hopes for the potential new Menteri Besar from PH, if there is one, Dr Afif humorously added, "If there isn't, you can hand it over to us, but of course, we'd need to discuss that."
He stressed the importance of the Menteri Besar understanding that the 22 representatives from PN were elected by the public, scattered across various areas.
This, he noted, necessitates cooperation with the opposition in providing public services guided by sincerity and truthfulness rather than mere political concerns.
Dr Afif adopted a proactive approach by sharing his phone number, enabling Taman Medan residents to contact him and share information about local issues.
He explained that this measure was aimed at gathering feedback within the initial month to address the raised concerns strategically.
"I hope to witness the outcomes of my initiatives within the first 100 days. My goal is to collaborate not only with the residents but more importantly with the Petaling Jaya City Hall and the incoming Selangor government," he added.
Taman Medan residents can communicate with Dr Afif by dialing 012-4403265. - AWANI
