CAMERON POLLS | Pakatan Harapan candidate M Manogaran plans to focus more on issues concerning the local community.

He said matters concerning flood mitigation, landslides, temporary occupation licences (TOL), foreign workers' permit registration, cleanliness, and local development should be prioritised over national issues.

Manogaran, 60, said if he was given the mandate, he would work hard to fulfil the promises made to the voters in the constituency.

"Regarding the TOL issue, the farmers have asked me to do away with the yearly renewals.

"As someone who has operated a farm for more than 40 years, I feel that the TOL is not appropriate, and we will take note of this and suggest to the government to convert the TOL to a lease. It will involve amendments to the National Land Code and other relevant acts," he told Bernama after a friendly session with voters around Ringlet and Bertam Valley in Tanah Rata.

Manogaran added that a victory for Harapan would be very significant, as it would mark a starting point for the coalition to wrestle control the state from BN.

Meanwhile, a voter says the Harapan candidate is "good but he has to work hard to win".

Abdul Latif Hussin, 70, said Manogaran should focus on winning the vote of the heads of the households as they could influence the choice of the family.

"We do not deny the role of young voters but do not neglect the head of the family,” he said when met by Bernama during a walkabout by BN candidate, Mohd Ramli Nor.

He said Manogaran is a very approachable person who is often in Cameron Highlands long before being announced as the candidate.

A shopkeeper, known as Siva, said Manogaran has the chance to win as he is well-known among the local residents unlike the BN candidate who only showed up now.

Trader Tony Goh, 54, said putting Ramli as a candidate would enhance BN’s chances to retain the highland seat as he is from the Orang Asli community.

Polling has been set for Jan 26 after the Election Court declared the victory of BN's C Sivarraajh in the 14th general election as null and void after finding there were practices of corruption to influence voters in the constituency.

- Bernama