Johari keeps eye on 8,000 first-time voters

KUALA LUMPUR: It is vital to focus on the hearts and minds of first-time voters in the 14th General Election, said BN Titiwangsa candidate Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
There are 8,000 new voters in his constituency of 61,598, making up 13% of the electorate.
"I have told all those campaigning for me that the first-time voters cannot take for granted as in 2013," Johari said in a news conference at Kg Bharu here today.
" I was so confident in 2013 but when I saw the result I found out that almost lost," he said.
In 2013, he garnered 23,034 votes against Ahmad Zamri Asa'ad Khuzaimi of PAS who had 22,168 votes. Johari won with a slim majority of 866 votes.
"These are different times for the younger generation of first-time voters. I have a slightly different view from some of my colleagues as an elected representative because the rakyat is actually making a choice who is their leader.
"We as their wakil rakyat must be humble to serve them. This is important. Tan Sri Shahril Samad once stood as independent and won. People viewed him as someone that they can turn to."
Johari said the candidate needed to be not only popular at the national level but also with people in their own constituencies.
"It is not good as the rakyat cannot appreciate you. I never look at myself as the Second Finance Minister but as a wakil rakyat," he added.
He was asked to comment on his position in a three-cornered fight with Rina Harun of PPBM and Mohamad Nor Mohamad of PAS.