MyPPP has worked hard to win over Cameron Highlands: Kayveas

PETALING JAYA: MyPPP has the ability and the support to ensure that Barisan Nasional (BN) retains the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat, according to party president Tan Sri Dr M. Kayveas.
He said he had been working hard to win over the support of residents ever since the membership of Datuk Seri G. Palanivel became null and void for taking MIC to court and it became an independent seat.
He said that he received the blessing of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to start working and canvassing to get the support of the people in Cameron Highlands.
"I believe with the work we have been doing the people will support BN, but this may only translate into votes if MyPPP stands in the constituency," he said.
Kayveas said he had been working hard to get the support of the people over the last three years and this effort is now bearing fruit.
He pointed out that he makes the effort to send a birthday card to every constituent and that there are those who stop him in the street to thank him.
"We have carried out activities such as fashion shows for ladies, a monthly sports festival and other activities to ensure the people know that we are there from them.
"To help the younger generation we have organised photography lessons and held entrepreneurship and leadership courses.
"This is now paying dividends, the constituents have made it very clear that they will only vote for BN if I stand as a candidate," said the Cameron Highlands-born politician, adding that his father and grandfather were also from the area and that he has some 700 odd relatives living there.
He pointed out that ever since he started serving the people of Cameron he has been invited to birthday parties, weddings, private dinners, and also for tea and coffee.
He said some people make a point to get him to have tea in their homes whenever he is there.
The MyPPP president said the idea of a traditional seat no longer holds water because people do not vote for a party, but they will look at the candidate and determine whether he will be willing to serve.
Kayveas said just to parachute in a candidate will prove to be difficult because the voters will not know who the person is.
BN won the Cameron Highland seat with a majority of 462 votes, and there were also 877 rejected ballots.
Kayveas, who is a special advisor to the Transport Ministry, said in the last election there were 28,000 voters and MyPPP has worked hard to register another 5,000 voters who are all pro-MyPPP and pro-BN supporters.
The MyPPP president said he was confident of increasing the majority to 2,000 if he was named the candidate.