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"Alhamdulillah (Thank God), I am happy," said Maimun. (Reuters) |
KUALA LUMPUR — Probably the oldest candidate in the world, 89-year-old Malaysian grandmother Maimun Yusuf still has the vigor to pedal on her old bicycle to get voters' support in Saturday's general elections and has taken her unique campaign online to reach out to the youth.
"I have been going non-stop since nomination day but a lot of people are helping me out, so I'm not pulling out," Maimun told Reuters on Friday, March 7.
"Alhamdulillah (Thank God), I am happy."
Maimun, who is running as independent to wrest a seat in the northeast state of Terengganu, hopes to serve as an example to younger generations.
"They just sit and complain and since no one I knew was willing to fight, I decided that I had to be the one to do it," said the Maimun, a textile trader with seven grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
"I am upset when I see a lot of youths turning to drugs and there are not enough schools. If chosen, I will make it all better."
With little money and manpower, the grandmother has been pedaling around on an old bicycle to meet voters and attend rallies, spending most of her saving on her campaigning.
"This is very tiring," Maimun said, campaigning in her 83,000-strong constituency of Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu state.
Saturday's elections will see three opposition parties running against the ruling Barisan Nasional, which has governed Malaysia since its 1957 independence.
Opposition parties have agreed to field one candidate against the ruling coalition in each of the 222 constituencies, avoiding damaging three-cornered contests.
Candidates will also be vying for a total 505 seats in twelve state assemblies.
Online
Maimun's campaign has also went online thanks to a group of tech-savvy youths.
"This is a last-minute measure for her to reach out to more voters, especially the younger generation," 24-year-old Brian Ong, a Yale economics graduate, told the New Straits Times.
Brian and two other savvy supporters have set up a blog and a page on the social popular networking website Facebook for the granny candidate.
"You might not win enough votes, but you've already won our hearts. Wish you all the best and success," wrote Megaa Velayuthan in one of the listings on her Facebook page.
Footage of Maimun's campaign has also been uploaded on the video sharing website Youtube.
"I am happy that these young men have come from far to help me," said Maimun.
"I hope that I will reach the young voters now that I'm online."
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