GOOD DIESEL…Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam launching the bio-fuel, Envo Diesel, at the state level at the Miri Indoor Stadium. Also present are Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Peter Chin Fah Kui (right) and Barisan Nasional candidate for Pujut Andy Chia Chu Fatt (left). Pix: Mazlan Samion

MIRI, May 14 (Bernama) -- Voters should reject "imported" opposition candidates as they cannot represent the voice of the people here, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said.

"Miri does not need imported and rejected outsiders to be the people's representatives," he told reporters after launching the bio-fuel, Envo Diesel, at the state level at the Miri Indoor Stadium here.

Miri City is seeing straight fights in all its three state constituencies -- Senadin, Piasau and Pujut. All the three opposition candidates contesting these seats are from outside Miri.

In the contest for the Senadin seat, Barisan Nasional (BN) incumbent Lee Kim Shin is facing Tony Chai Chook Fui of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) who hails from Sibu while Chan himself is defending the Piasau seat against PKR's Dr Francis Ngu Hee Hieng, who comes from Kuching.

In Pujut, BN's Andy Chia Chu Fatt faces Fong Pau Teck of DAP, who is from Sibu.

"The people of Miri are not stupid. We don't want rejected goods. What can they (the opposition) do for the people. They are not from here and they only appear during elections. They don't understand us," he said.

"It is better to vote for someone whom we are familiar with, someone who can stand for us. We must vote for a local Miri candidate. All our (BN) candidates are from Miri," he said.

Chan, who is also Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president, urged voters to turn out in full force to cast their ballots in the ninth state election on Saturday to show their continuous support for the BN.

"I hope everyone will come out and vote although many of them are confident BN will win this time.

"Don't just say that you have the confidence, act and vote for BN to show your confidence in us," he said.

"The people of Miri are not stupid. We don't want rejected goods. What can they (the opposition) do for the people. They are not from here and they only appear during elections. They don't understand us," he said.

"It is better to vote for someone whom we are familiar with, someone who can stand for us. We must vote for a local Miri candidate. All our (BN) candidates are from Miri," he said.

Chan, who is also Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president, urged voters to turn out in full force to cast their ballots in the ninth state election on Saturday to show their continuous support for the BN.

"I hope everyone will come out and vote although many of them are confident BN will win this time.

"Don't just say that you have the confidence, act and vote for BN to show your confidence in us," he said.

At the national level, Envo Diesel usage was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March to reduce dependency on diesel as one of the measures to combat rising fuel prices.

Envo Diesel, a product of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), is a mixture of five per cent processed palm oil and 95 per cent diesel, meant for local use.

Three bus companies based in Miri -- Miri Transport Company Sdn Bhd, Miri Belait Transport Company Sdn Bhd and Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd -- will undertake a six-month trial of the use of envo diesel.

-- BERNAMA