Ismail woos the Chinese

In an effort to swing the non Malays towards BN, Ismail Saffian hits the road meeting the Chinese community of Bukit Gantang.

Being a local boy, Ismail is confident of vanquishing former MB and PAS candidate Ismail Saffian.

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A cursory look at the two main candidates for the Bukit Gantang by-election may seem like a David versus Goliath battle between an unknown Barisan Nasional candidate against a popular national PAS leader.

BNs Ismail Saffian, 49, however has an edge which his Kampar born PAS opponent Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, 52, can never have - first hand local knowledge and wide local exposure.

Ismail is born and raised in Kampung Kubu, Changkat Jering before starting his career in the civil service as a teacher in 1984. He joined Bukit Gantang Umno division the same year.

Since then, he has been the elections director of Bukit Gantang Parliamentary constituency twice, in 2004 and 2008, and knows the electoral terrain and his counterparts in BN coalition parties well.

Its okay. Im born here. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances here. I think that is my advantage, said Ismail, when asked if he was the underdog since he is contesting against Mohd Nizar who is the ousted Perak menteri besar.

Ismail was speaking to reporters while visiting Temerloh, near Terong town, after his walkabout session in a Chinese new village consisting primarily of farmers.
During his visit, Ismail who stands at a more than six feet tall, resembled a gentle giant amongst the Temerloh populace as he approached each house with a wide grin.



Reporting: Andrew Ong
Camera & editing: Mohd Kamal Ishak